Abuja’s cost of living is relatively high, with costs for rent and land beyond the means of many Nigerians.
One popular nickname for Abuja is the abbreviation ABJ. Abuja itself is the nickname of city founder King Abubakar. Another nickname for Abuja is the “Center of Unity” reflecting both its central location in the country and the relative dearth of ethnic and religious differences.
Abuja’s landscape is defined by hills and large rocks created by water erosion. The latter includes Aso Rock and Zuma Rock.
Abuja was carefully planned to become Nigeria’s capital. That planning explains its extensive and easily accessible road network, as well as Abuja’s seamless transportation system featuring easily accessible taxis for all routes in the city.
In terms of international trade, Nigeria ranked number 51 among the world’s top exporting countries on the strength of $53.6 billion worth of products shipped around the globe in 2019. Nigeria’s most valuable exports include crude petroleum oil (76.5% of its global total), petroleum gas (10.1%), floating structures including vessels (4.2%), base metal flexible tubing (3.9%), miscellaneous oil seeds and oleaginous fruits (0.5%) and cocoa beans (also 0.5%).
Capital Facts for Abuja, Nigeria: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Aso Rock, Presidential Complex, Abuja National Mosque and National Stadium
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Abuja, Nigeria.
- Jojo Ogunnupe, footballer/soccer player (born Feb. 23, 1992)
- Lil Ice, Afro pop rapper & singer (born Sep. 3, 1997)
- Eugène Salami, footballer/soccer player (born Feb. 5, 1989 )
- Philips Tanimu Aduda, politician (born Jun. 13, 1969)
- Praise Onubiyi, footballer/soccer player (born Aug. 10, 1989)
- Steve Crown Okolo, gospel singer (unknown)
- Joseph Amajama, engineering physics teacher (unknown)
- Francis Oshorenoya David, painter (unknown)
- Chima Moneke, basketball player (born Dec. 24, 1995)
- Joy Ekuta, brain & cognitive sciences researcher (unknown)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches mostly targeting published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for an Abuja resident: Abujans
Population: 3,277,740 (Abuja urban agglomeration) at July 2, 2020
Density: 11,919 people per square mile (4,597 per square kilometer)
Population: 206,177,000 (Nigeria)
Density: 586 people per square mile (226 per square kilometer)
Median age for all Nigerians: 18.1 years old
Financial
GDP: US$1.217 trillion for 2019 (Nigeria)
GDP per person: $6,055
Note: The above country-level GDP metrics are on a Purchasing Power Parity basis and are in U.S. dollars. Credible city GDP statistics for Abjua were unavailable.
Official currency used in Abuja: Nigerian naira
Research
Research Sources:
Atlas & Boots, The World’s Most Expensive Cities for Expats 2016.
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data).
Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook, Field Listing: Major Urban Areas.
CityMetric, Where are largest cities in the world? 2015 edition.
Demographia, World Urban Area, 12th Annual Edition.
Euromonitor International, World’s Fastest-Growing Cities are in Asia and Africa.
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases.
International Trade Centre, Trade Map.
Mercer, 2016 Cost of Living Rankings.
Official Government Website, Abuja City, Nigeria.
Wikimedia Commons, City Flags.
Note: Some city flags were unavailable. If so, attribution belongs to Wikimedia Commons for pertinent country flags.
Wikipedia, Abuja.
Wikipedia, Capital Districts and Territories.
Wikipedia, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
Wikipedia, Nigeria.
WorldOMeter, Nigeria Population.
Nigeria separated from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960. Nigerians celebrate Independence Day (also called National Day) as a public holiday each October 1.
Including Abuja’s urban agglomeration in addition to adjacent suburban areas, about 3.3 million residents live within a land mass that measures 958 square miles (2,482 square kilometers).
Nicknamed the Giant of Africa, Nigeria’s land area covers 351,650 square miles (910,770 square kilometers) featuring a national population count of 206.2 million inhabitants as of July 2020.
Population density is concentrated within Abuja’s urban area with an average 3,421 residents per square mile (1,321 per square kilometer).
Zooming out to Nigeria’s overall land boundaries, the nation’s population density thins out to an average 586 inhabitants per square mile (226 per square kilometer).
