Nigeria

Population
Total Population: Approximately 230 million (as of 2024, UN estimate)
Gender Distribution: 49.6% female, 50.4% male
Youth Population: Over 62% under the age of 25
Urban vs Rural Distribution: 53% urban, 47% rural

Economic Landscape
GDP: $450 billion (2023 estimate, World Bank)
Key Industries: Oil and Gas, Agriculture (cassava, yams), Telecommunications
Women in Workforce: Approximately 47%, with heavy presence in agriculture and informal trade
Gender Pay Gap: Women earn 25% less than men in formal sectors
Challenges: Oil dependency, unemployment (33%, 2023), limited credit access for women

Political Landscape
Women’s Representation in Leadership:
Parliament: 4% (House of Representatives), 7% (Senate)
Local Government Leadership: Less than 5% of chairpersons are women
Challenges: Political exclusion, insecurity (Boko Haram), weak gender policy enforcement
Key Policies Promoting Gender Equality:
National Gender Policy (2006, revised 2021)
Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015)

• Social and Cultural Context
  Gender Norms and Cultural Attitudes:
  Patriarchal norms dominate, especially in northern regions
  Women often relegated to caregiving and subsistence roles
  Traditional Barriers:
  Early marriages (43% of girls before 18, UNICEF)
  Gender-based violence (30% prevalence, NDHS)
  Limited land ownership for women

• Gender Index Rankings
  Global Gender Gap Index (2023): Ranked 123rd out of 146 countries
  Human Development Index (2023): 0.548 (Medium human development)
  Women’s Empowerment Index: Slow gains in education, low economic participation
  Challenges Identified: High maternal mortality (512 per 100,000 births), poverty, insurgency impacts