Official exchange rate in Nigeria
Nigeria: Official exchange rate was 1,518 LCU per US$, period average in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,518 LCU per US$, period average
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
21st
of 215 countries
All-time high
1,518 LCU per US$, period average
in 2025
All-time low
0.5468 LCU per US$, period average
in 1980
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Official exchange rate in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in LCU per US$, period average.
Analysis
In 2025, official exchange rate in Nigeria stood at 1,518 LCU per US$, period average. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 689.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official exchange rate in Nigeria peaked at 1,518 LCU per US$, period average in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.5468 LCU per US$, period average, in 1980.
That places Nigeria 21st out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Official exchange rate in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | LCU per US$, period average | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | — |
| 1961 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.7129 LCU per US$, period average | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 0.6579 LCU per US$, period average | -7.7% |
| 1973 | 0.6579 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.6303 LCU per US$, period average | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 0.6155 LCU per US$, period average | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 0.6266 LCU per US$, period average | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 0.6447 LCU per US$, period average | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 0.6353 LCU per US$, period average | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 0.604 LCU per US$, period average | -4.9% |
| 1980 | 0.5468 LCU per US$, period average | -9.5% |
| 1981 | 0.6177 LCU per US$, period average | +13.0% |
| 1982 | 0.6735 LCU per US$, period average | +9.0% |
| 1983 | 0.7244 LCU per US$, period average | +7.6% |
| 1984 | 0.7665 LCU per US$, period average | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 0.8938 LCU per US$, period average | +16.6% |
| 1986 | 1.75 LCU per US$, period average | +96.3% |
| 1987 | 4.02 LCU per US$, period average | +128.9% |
| 1988 | 4.54 LCU per US$, period average | +13.0% |
| 1989 | 7.36 LCU per US$, period average | +62.3% |
| 1990 | 8.04 LCU per US$, period average | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 9.91 LCU per US$, period average | +23.3% |
| 1992 | 17.3 LCU per US$, period average | +74.6% |
| 1993 | 22.07 LCU per US$, period average | +27.6% |
| 1994 | 22 LCU per US$, period average | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 21.9 LCU per US$, period average | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 21.88 LCU per US$, period average | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 21.89 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 21.89 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 92.34 LCU per US$, period average | +321.9% |
| 2000 | 101.7 LCU per US$, period average | +10.1% |
| 2001 | 111.23 LCU per US$, period average | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 120.58 LCU per US$, period average | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 129.22 LCU per US$, period average | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 132.89 LCU per US$, period average | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 131.27 LCU per US$, period average | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 128.65 LCU per US$, period average | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 125.81 LCU per US$, period average | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 118.57 LCU per US$, period average | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 148.88 LCU per US$, period average | +25.6% |
| 2010 | 150.3 LCU per US$, period average | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 153.86 LCU per US$, period average | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 157.5 LCU per US$, period average | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 157.31 LCU per US$, period average | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 158.55 LCU per US$, period average | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 192.44 LCU per US$, period average | +21.4% |
| 2016 | 253.49 LCU per US$, period average | +31.7% |
| 2017 | 305.79 LCU per US$, period average | +20.6% |
| 2018 | 306.08 LCU per US$, period average | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 306.92 LCU per US$, period average | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 358.81 LCU per US$, period average | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 401.15 LCU per US$, period average | +11.8% |
| 2022 | 425.98 LCU per US$, period average | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 645.19 LCU per US$, period average | +51.5% |
| 2024 | 1,479 LCU per US$, period average | +129.2% |
| 2025 | 1,518 LCU per US$, period average | +2.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1,518 LCU per US$, period average is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 103.16 LCU per US$, period average, 14.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1,518 LCU per US$, period average is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 581.93 LCU per US$, period average, 2.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Official exchange rate in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +321.9% | 21.89 LCU per US$, period average | 92.34 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1987 | +128.9% | 1.75 LCU per US$, period average | 4.02 LCU per US$, period average |
| 2024 | +129.2% | 645.19 LCU per US$, period average | 1,479 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1986 | +96.3% | 0.8938 LCU per US$, period average | 1.75 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1992 | +74.6% | 9.91 LCU per US$, period average | 17.3 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1989 | +62.3% | 4.54 LCU per US$, period average | 7.36 LCU per US$, period average |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.6499 LCU per US$, period average | 0.604 LCU per US$, period average | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.19 LCU per US$, period average | 0.5468 LCU per US$, period average | 7.36 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.92 LCU per US$, period average | 8.04 LCU per US$, period average | 92.34 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2000s | 124.88 LCU per US$, period average | 101.7 LCU per US$, period average | 148.88 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2010s | 214.23 LCU per US$, period average | 150.3 LCU per US$, period average | 306.92 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2020s | 804.75 LCU per US$, period average | 358.81 LCU per US$, period average | 1,518 LCU per US$, period average | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 18 Tanzania 2,598 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 19 Syria 2,506 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 20 South Sudan 2,163 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 22 Rwanda 1,428 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 23 South Korea 1,422 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 24 Myanmar 1,382 LCU per US$, period average compare
More financial sector data for Nigeria
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.01 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.7387 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.01 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is official exchange rate in Nigeria?
- Official exchange rate in Nigeria was 1,518 LCU per US$, period average in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest official exchange rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 1,518 LCU per US$, period average in 2025.
- What is the lowest official exchange rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5468 LCU per US$, period average in 1980.
- How does Nigeria rank for official exchange rate?
- Nigeria ranks 21st out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is official exchange rate rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 689.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Official exchange rate refers to the exchange rate determined by national authorities or to the rate determined in the legally sanctioned exchange market. This indicator represents the ratio of Local Currency Units relative to United States dollars.This indicator is derived as an average over the reference period.