[Detailed] Size of Nigeria compared to Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is a state located in the Western Region of the United States of America. Alaska is the largest US state by Land Area bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. Alaska is the largest state in the the United States with a total land area of about 1.7 million km sq.

However, in 1867 the state of Alaska was sold to the United States for 7.2 million USD which is roughly equivalent to 133 million USD in 2021. On the 3^rd day of January 1959, the territory of Alaska was admitted as the 49^th state of the United States of America.

Anchorage in Alaska has a population of about 300k

Nigeria

Nigeria which is known officially as the Federal Republic of Nigeria has its political capital in Abuja and economic capital in Lagos. Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and has also been ranked as the most populous black nation on earth with an estimated population of over 200 million people.

Lagos is the most populated city in Nigeria with over 20M people (Higher bars means higher population)

Geographically, Nigeria is located between the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and the Sahel to the North. Nigeria borders the Niger Republic to the North, the Republic of Chad to the Northeast, Cameroon to the East, and the Republic of Benin to the West.

Side by side comparison of Alaska and Nigeria drawn to scale

Alaska (L) and Nigeria (L)

By land area, the state of Alaska has a total land area of 1,739,078km sq,  which is far bigger than Nigeria’s 923,756 km sq total land area. What this implies is that the state of Alaska is about two times larger than Nigeria when it comes to land size.

Superimposing of Alaska and Nigeria maps

By comparing the total land mass of both places and by making observations from the image above, we can conclude that Alaska is two times larger than Nigeria. What this means is that we can fit in two Nigeria into Alaska.

Population demographics of Nigeria as compared to Alaska

Based on the data released by the United States census board, the State of Alaska has a total population of about 800,000 inhabitants as at 2019, making it one of the least populated states in the United States.

Based on population density, Alaska has one of the least population densities on earth with a population density of 1.37 km2 per inhabitant.

For Nigeria, the population dynamics are entirely different. Ranked as the most populous country in Africa and the largest black nation. The World Bank projects Nigeria’s Population to be about 206million with an annual growth rate of 5 million as at 2020.

Comparing the GDP of both Countries

GDP of Nigeria

Nigeria has been ranked as the biggest economy in Africa. Although the Covid19 Pandemic has affected all its economic sectors, including Oil which is the economic mainstay, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 0.51% in the first quarter of 2021 according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics 2021 report.

As of 2021, Nigeria has a GDP of $432B which is 8 times bigger than that of Alaska.

GDP of Alaska

The state of Alaska has witnessed a steady decline in its Gross Domestic Product growth rate, due to decline in the production volume of oil and gas. As of 2020, the GDP of the state of Alaska was at $52.2 billion which is one of the lowest in the United States. Renowned economist Scott Goldsmith described Alaska’s economy as the ‘three legged stool’, with its petroleum sector, federal funding, and other industries being the legs.

5 facts about both places

5 Facts about Nigeria

1. The Northern part of Nigeria which is 719,000km2 occupies 80% of the Nation’s land.
2. Nelson Mandela was hidden in Nigeria by 1st republic aviation minister for 6 months to evade his arrest by the Apartheid regime.
3. Activist Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome Kuti was denied US Visa for her association with Mao Zedong- a communist.
4. The first military coup in Nigeria, infamously referred as the ‘Igbo coup’ was carried out by Kaduna Nzeogwu in collaboration with other officers from various ethnic groups.
5. Before 1984, you don’t require a Visa as a Nigerian to travel to the United Kingdom.

5 Facts about Alaska

1. Alaska is the largest state in the United States of America with a total land area of 925, 746 km2.
2. Fur traders and Russian whalers were the first people to inhabit Alaska in 1784.
3. The largest oil field in North America is in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.
4. The largest city in Alaska is Anchorage
5. Alaska was initially a Russian territory until in March 30, 1867 when it was sold to the United States for 7.2 million USD.

Abbey

Abbey Johnson has a Masters degree as an engineer and has over 3 years of teaching and research experience. He is happiest when on a bike and is also interested in electric energy and computer Science.