Calabar
Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and creeks of the Cross River (from its inland delta).
Calabar
Kingdom of Calabar | |
|---|---|
City | |
Giant Hand Sculptures near National Museum, Calabar. | |
Calabar Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 04°58′36″N 08°20′18″E | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| State | Cross River |
| Area | |
| • Total | 406 km2 (157 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 371,022 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 571,500 |
| • Density | 910/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP, 2015 int. Dollar) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total | $4.8 billion |
| • Per capita | $7,300 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| Climate | Am |
Calabar is often described as the tourism capital of Nigeria, especially due to several initiatives implemented during the administration of Donald Duke as governor of Cross River State (1999–2007), which made the city the cleanest and most environmentally friendly city in Nigeria. Administratively, the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South Local Government Areas. It has an area of 406 square kilometres (157 sq mi) and a population of 371,022 as at 2006 census. Both LGAs together had an estimated population of 571,500 in 2022.