Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 21.3% in 2011. ▼ Falling
Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, 1960–2011
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 21.3% for share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in 2011.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria peaked at 28.9% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 16.3%, in 2003.
That places Nigeria 43rd out of 43 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25.6% | — |
| 1961 | 26.0% | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 25.1% | -3.5% |
| 1963 | 25.9% | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 27.8% | +7.3% |
| 1965 | 27.2% | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 26.9% | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 26.7% | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 28.9% | +8.2% |
| 1969 | 28.7% | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 27.6% | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 26.2% | -5.1% |
| 1972 | 25.8% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 25.0% | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 20.7% | -17.2% |
| 1975 | 24.3% | +17.4% |
| 1976 | 23.5% | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 24.5% | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 24.0% | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 24.5% | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 23.4% | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 26.9% | +15.0% |
| 1982 | 27.2% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 27.9% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 26.7% | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 25.4% | -4.9% |
| 1986 | 25.8% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 22.2% | -14.0% |
| 1988 | 20.9% | -5.9% |
| 1989 | 20.9% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 19.2% | -8.1% |
| 1991 | 19.1% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 16.9% | -11.5% |
| 1993 | 20.4% | +20.7% |
| 1994 | 24.5% | +20.1% |
| 1995 | 18.8% | -23.3% |
| 1996 | 17.4% | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 18.6% | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 22.9% | +23.1% |
| 1999 | 21.9% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 17.4% | -20.5% |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +19.5% |
| 2002 | 16.9% | -18.8% |
| 2003 | 16.3% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 18.8% | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 18.4% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 21.2% | +15.2% |
| 2007 | 21.7% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 22.4% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 25.2% | +12.5% |
| 2010 | 20.6% | -18.3% |
| 2011 | 21.3% | +3.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 21.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 51.6%, 41% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 21.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.4%, 38% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 26.9% | 25.1% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 24.6% | 20.7% | 27.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.7% | 20.9% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.0% | 16.9% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.9% | 16.3% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.0% | 20.6% | 21.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria?
- Share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria was 21.3% in 2011, according to Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 1968.
- What is the lowest share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.3% in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 43rd out of 43 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The vertical axis shows historical estimates of the value of services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage. The horizontal axis shows GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.