Page 66 - The World About Us

Third Mainland
Bridge
1.1.1
2.2.4

What is life like in Lagos, Nigeria, Africa’s largest city?e like in Lagos, Nigeria, Africa’s largest city?
What is lif

Lagos is the largest city in Africa, fig.180 Lagos in 1910.
and one of the fastest growing. Population Factfile
Located on the coast of western fig.181 Lagos popula on pyramid.
Nigeria, at the mouth of the Lagos Age
Lagoon, the se lement has grown 65+
60-65
from a town of just a few thousand 55-60
50-55
people at the start of the 20th Century 45-50
to a mega-city of over 22 million by 40-45
35-40
2017. 30-35
25-30
As Lagos has grown it has spread 20-25
15-20
from Lagos Island itself, across 10-15
favour of the new purpose-built capital 5-10
neighbouring islands onto, and 0-5
city at Abuja in 1991. However, Lagos 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
outwards, across the mainland. percentage of the popula on
remains at the centre of the Nigerian
Known as Èkó in the local Yorùbá economy, accoun ng for 10% of Gross 0ver 60% of Lagosians are under
language, the city spreads across 1,171 Domes c Product. It is for this reason the age of 25 and over 40% under
square kilometres (452 square miles). that Lagos sucks in tens of thousands the age of 15.
This is approximately the same area as of rural migrants every year. Median age: 18.3 years
Greater Manchester but with a Life expectancy at birth: 53.4 years
Growth rates above 5% each year
popula on over seven mes larger. Birth rate: 36.9 per 1000
have not been uncommon. Lagos is
From 1914, Lagos was the capital officially in the top five fastest growing Death rate: 12.5 per 1000
city of Nigeria but it lost this status in ci es on the planet. Infant mortality: 71 per 1000
Fer lity rate: 5.1 per woman
fig.182 Buying and selling in Lagos. With such rapid growth, the City growth rate: 4% per annum
infrastructure of the city has struggled
to keep pace with the city's needs.
Around two thirds of the popula on of wealthy individuals living in the
live in slums; informal se lements more affluent areas of Lagos. In 2016,
which have grown and spread as the it was reported that two thirds of
popula on has surged. Slum Nigeria's 770 naira-billionaires (people
clearances have become a major social with personal wealth of over US$10
million each) lived in the city of Lagos.
and poli cal issue in recent years.
Much of this wealth is associated
Many slum dwellers work in the
informal economy, struggling to make with Nigeria's oil industry. While
ends meet on a daily basis. In 2010, extrac on is centred on the Niger
62% of the popula on lived on less Delta, Lagos remains the centre of
than $1 a day. business and commerce. Most large
businesses choose to locate in Lagos
On the other hand, there are plenty rather than Abuja or other ci es.

Growing bigger by the hour N fig.183 The ever-expanding Lagos.

The rapid expansion of Lagos has been driven by
high birth rates, rising life expectancy and significant
rural-to-urban migra on. Lagos has always been the
economic centre of the Nigerian economy and so
retains significant pull factors drawing people in from Lagos, 1900
the countryside. Lagos, 1965
The United Na ons es mates that Lagos is growing Lagos, 1990
at the rate of 77 people every hour of every day. At Lagos, 2015
current growth rates of 4% per annum, Lagos will see
its popula on double between 2012 and 2030.
In recent years many Nigerians living abroad have
chosen to return. They are bringing new skills and
interna onal experience to the Nigerian economy. 10km

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Cities have distinct challenges and ways of life, influenced by its people and culture.