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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain Nigeria's population structure and factors influencing population growth and distribution.

      Key learning points

      1. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.
      2. Population is unevenly distributed across the country.
      3. High birth rates and falling death rates contribute to rapid population growth.
      4. Different human and physical factors affect population density.

      Keywords

      • Birth rate - the number of live births per 1000 people per year

      • Death rate - the number of deaths per 1000 people per year

      • Population density - the number of people living in a defined area, e.g. 300 people per km2

      • Population distribution - how people are spread out across a geographic area

      Common misconception

      Population pyramids only show us the total population size.

      A population pyramid provides information about the structure of the population; the age and gender profile of the location represented. This can help governments with future planning.

      Teacher tip

      Use GIS to investigate how population density varies across Nigeria.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the capital city of Nigeria?

      Lagos
      Correct answer: Abuja
      Port Harcourt

      Q2.
      Which line of latitude is closest to Nigeria?

      Tropic of Cancer
      Correct answer: Equator
      Tropic of Capricorn
      Arctic Circle

      Q3.
      Match the following physical features with their description:

      Correct Answer:Volcanic Plateau,Formed by ancient lava flows

      Formed by ancient lava flows

      Correct Answer:Mangrove Swamps,Found in coastal, salty water areas

      Found in coastal, salty water areas

      Correct Answer:Niger River,Major river flowing through Nigeria

      Major river flowing through Nigeria

      Q4.
      Which natural resource is Nigeria especially rich in?

      Gold
      Diamonds
      Correct answer: Oil

      Q5.
      High areas in Nigeria, like the Jos Plateau, have cooler climates.

      Correct Answer: altitude

      Q6.
      Which statement best describes Nigeria’s physical geography?

      It is mostly mountainous
      It has deserts everywhere
      Correct answer: It is very varied, with rivers, forests, plateaus, and savannah
      It is covered completely in rainforest

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What does the birth rate measure?

      Number of people per km²
      Correct answer: Number of live births per 1000 people per year
      Number of deaths per 1000 people per year
      Average age of people in a population

      Q2.
      The rate shows how many people die per 1000 each year.

      Correct Answer: death

      Q3.
      Which of these would be shown clearly by a population pyramid?

      Total number of rivers in a country
      How many people live in urban vs rural areas
      Correct answer: The age and gender structure of a population
      The number of schools in a country

      Q4.
      If an area in Nigeria has 300 people per km², this describes its:

      Birth rate
      Correct answer: Population density
      Death rate
      Population distribution

      To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Population of Nigeria, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...