Nigeria is in West Africa, just south of Niger, and the two are separate countries with different borders, capitals, languages, and colonial histories. Niger is landlocked and mostly French-speaking, while Nigeria has a coastline on the Atlantic and English as its official language.
Where Nigeria is
Nigeria sits on the western side of Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea. It borders Benin to the west, Niger to the north, Chad to the northeast, and Cameroon to the east. Its capital is Abuja.
Why people mix them up
The names are similar, and the countries are neighbors, so the confusion is common. But they are not the same place, and one is not part of the other.
Main differences
Feature| Niger| Nigeria
---|---|---
Region| West Africa| West Africa
Coastline| No, landlocked| Yes, coastal
Official language| French| English
Capital| Niamey| Abuja
Border relationship| Borders Nigeria| Borders Niger
Niger is generally much drier, with a large share of its land covered by the Sahara Desert. Nigeria has a more varied geography, with coastal areas in the south and inland plains and hills.
Easy way to remember
Think of Niger as the landlocked northern neighbor and Nigeria as the larger coastal country to the south. The names are close, but the countries are distinct in almost every practical way.