Ethnic Groups and Languages
Languages spoken in Nigeria are: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Efik (Annang/Ibibio/Efik), Ijaw, Edo, Etsako, Esan, Benis and others.
Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo 18%, Ijaw 6.5%, Yakurr 4%, Ibibio 4.5%, Kanuri 4%, Annang 3.5%, Etsakor 2.2%, Tiv 2.5%, Efik 2%. However these percentages are mere estimates, based on the number of settlements, including the number of towns, villages, hamlets and cities, with information supplied by the Nigeria postal service. The fact still remains that they can be wide off the mark as there is not yet any efficient way these statistics can be gotten within Nigeria. Although, these estimates have come under opposition by those who believe the ethnic group population counts have been tampered with for ethnic numerical superiority.
In the absence of an up to date census, other population figures do not follow scientific procedures. Only these are backed by settlement figures provided by the government.
Read more about this topic: Demographics Of Nigeria
Famous quotes containing the words ethnic, groups and/or languages:
“Caprice, independence and rebellion, which are opposed to the social order, are essential to the good health of an ethnic group. We shall measure the good health of this group by the number of its delinquents. Nothing is more immobilizing than the spirit of deference.”
—Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985)
“In properly organized groups no faith is required; what is required is simply a little trust and even that only for a little while, for the sooner a man begins to verify all he hears the better it is for him.”
—George Gurdjieff (c. 1877–1949)
“I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigree of nations.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)