Nigeria and Ethiopia
Nigeria and Ethiopia signed an agreement for the transfer of sentenced persons. Consular cooperation seeks to facilitate serving sentences in the country of origin under legal conditions and to support reintegration.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
Lateef Fagbemi and Hanna Arayaselassie signed the sentenced-person transfer instrument in Addis Ababa, with diplomatic and prison officials participating.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The framework allows nationals of either country to serve the remainder of their sentence in their state of origin when requirements are met.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The framework allows nationals of either country to serve the remainder of their sentence in their state of origin when requirements are met.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Nigeria to Ethiopia | ||
| Goods: Ethiopia to Nigeria | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Nigeria to Ethiopia | ||
| Export share: Ethiopia to Nigeria | ||
| Investment stock: Nigeria in Ethiopia | ||
| Investment stock: Ethiopia in Nigeria |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Nigeria | Ethiopia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 290.79 billion USD2025 · World Bank | 126.36 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 1,224.25 USD2025 · World Bank | 932.73 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 4.01 %2025 · World Bank | 9.77 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 23.01 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank | 13.23 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 15.1 %Headline CPI · 2026-08 · year-on-year · Ethiopian Statistical Service | |
| Unemployment | 3.06 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank | 3.32 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -1.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -1.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 35.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 43.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 4.83 %2025 · World Bank | -2.53 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 237,527,7822025 · World Bank | 135,472,0512025 · WB |
| Area | 923,770 km²2023 · World Bank | 1,136,240 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDNigeria: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personNigeria: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Nigeria: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Nigeria: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedEthiopia: 2026-08 · National headline CPI, change from the same month of the previous year · Ethiopian Statistical Service · Published: 2026-09-08 · The document says August EFY2018; the ESS profile identifies it as August 2026. Not food inflation or a 12-month moving average. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionNigeria: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Nigeria: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.Ethiopia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Nigeria: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.Ethiopia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPNigeria: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Population
- PeopleNigeria: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceNigeria: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Ethiopia: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Nigeria to Ethiopia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Ethiopia to Nigeria
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Nigeria's foreign minister highlighted family ties, language and social support for rehabilitation. The statement also mentions aviation, security and migration cooperation, but does not confirm a specific completed transfer or automatic release through signing. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Nigeria living in Ethiopia | ||
| Residents from Ethiopia living in Nigeria | ||
| Study and training: Nigeria in Ethiopia | ||
| Study and training: Ethiopia in Nigeria | ||
| Academic stays: Nigeria in Ethiopia | ||
| Academic stays: Ethiopia in Nigeria | ||
| Travel: Nigeria to Ethiopia | ||
| Travel: Ethiopia to Nigeria |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
Lateef Fagbemi and Hanna Arayaselassie signed the sentenced-person transfer instrument in Addis Ababa, with diplomatic and prison officials participating. The governments agreed to begin implementing it in accordance with their laws and international obligations. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nigeria's nominal GDP is 290.8 billion USD (2025), compared with 126.4 for Ethiopia (2025). The reference populations are 237.53 and 135.47 million, respectively. In the same year, Nigeria's economy was 2.3 times Ethiopia's in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The framework allows nationals of either country to serve the remainder of their sentence in their state of origin when requirements are met. Nigeria's foreign minister highlighted family ties, language and social support for rehabilitation. The statement also mentions aviation, security and migration cooperation, but does not confirm a specific completed transfer or automatic release through signing. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — NGA-ETH
foreignaffairs.gov.ng · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07