Estimates of recent fertility were produced for all Nigeria and for the four broad geographical regions using data from the Nigeria Fertility Survey (NFS) of 1981/1982. The results indicated that fertility was quite high in the decade of the 1970s at an average total fertility rate of 6.8. Analysis of differentials by demographic and other background characteristics, and of determinants, did not show evidence of large shifts in fertility trend in any specific direction, especially when the quality of the data is considered alongside the estimates. It was suggested that, the influence of reporting errors in the NFS notwithstanding, fertility for all of Nigeria appeared to have remained roughly stable at very high levels in the 1970s. Chapter 1 introduced the project, its aim, scope and methodology, and highlighted some features which should be put into consideration in any analysis using the NFS data. Chapter 2 drew attention to possible effects of the quality of the information collected in the NFS on estimates and analysis of fertility. In Chapter 3, the estimated results were presented and, with additional data from other sources, used to examine whether fertility was stable, rising or falling in the recent past in Nigeria. Chapter 4 examined any variations in fertility due to age, age at marriage and age at motherhood with measures estimated when analysis was indexed by age at survey and durations of marriage and motherhood as further search for possible sources of any early fertility change. Chapter 5 carried out an integrated examination of the socioeconomic and proximate determinants of fertility with the same aim as in Chapter 4. Chapter 6 presented a summary of the major findings with a brief discussion of their implications for further research in Nigerian fertility and for the fertility target of the 1988 government policy on population.