Regions of Nigeria: population and official figures
Nigeria is divided into 37 regions. The largest by population is Kano with 15,671,491 people (7.1% of the total); the smallest is Bayelsa with 2,583,352. Population figures are National Population Commission projections for 2023, published by the National Bureau of Statistics; Nigeria has not held a census since 2006. Each state page adds poverty, prices, schooling, child health, state revenue, federal allocations and debt from the NBS, the National Population Commission's health surveys, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Debt Management Office.
Who governs Nigeria's regions?
States (36) and the Federal Capital Territory: State governor and House of Assembly elected; the FCT is run by a minister appointed by the president. Major government level: makes the laws that create and run local governments; runs State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
How local power works in Nigeria · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 37 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kano | 15,671,491 | 2023 | +2.3% |
| 2 | Lagos | 13,710,862 | 2023 | +1.8% |
| 3 | Katsina | 10,661,373 | 2023 | +3.4% |
| 4 | Kaduna | 9,249,537 | 2023 | +2.7% |
| 5 | Bauchi | 8,529,872 | 2023 | +3.1% |
| 6 | Oyo | 8,127,483 | 2023 | +2.0% |
| 7 | Jigawa | 7,687,056 | 2023 | +3.1% |
| 8 | Rivers | 7,616,859 | 2023 | +2.0% |
| 9 | Niger | 6,965,970 | 2023 | +2.8% |
| 10 | Ogun | 6,512,195 | 2023 | +2.3% |
| 11 | Sokoto | 6,501,265 | 2023 | +2.5% |
| 12 | Benue | 6,259,867 | 2023 | +2.0% |
| 13 | Borno | 6,207,654 | 2023 | +1.9% |
| 14 | Anambra | 6,061,011 | 2023 | +1.9% |
| 15 | Zamfara | 5,990,131 | 2023 | +3.0% |
| 16 | Delta | 5,737,314 | 2023 | +1.9% |
| 17 | Kebbi | 5,711,801 | 2023 | +3.3% |
| 18 | Imo | 5,548,808 | 2023 | +1.8% |
| 19 | Ondo | 5,422,399 | 2023 | +2.2% |
| 20 | Akwa Ibom | 5,044,286 | 2023 | +1.3% |
| 21 | Adamawa | 5,017,720 | 2023 | +2.5% |
| 22 | Edo | 4,874,613 | 2023 | +2.2% |
| 23 | Plateau | 4,807,502 | 2023 | +2.2% |
| 24 | Enugu | 4,768,489 | 2023 | +1.9% |
| 25 | Kogi | 4,557,686 | 2023 | +2.3% |
| 26 | Osun | 4,494,970 | 2023 | +1.5% |
| 27 | Cross River | 4,490,963 | 2023 | +1.8% |
| 28 | Abia | 4,232,255 | 2023 | +2.4% |
| 29 | Gombe | 4,058,199 | 2023 | +2.8% |
| 30 | Yobe | 3,728,525 | 2023 | +2.3% |
| 31 | Taraba | 3,689,513 | 2023 | +2.5% |
| 32 | Ekiti | 3,667,047 | 2023 | +2.2% |
| 33 | Kwara | 3,626,882 | 2023 | +2.7% |
| 34 | Ebonyi | 3,315,180 | 2023 | +2.4% |
| 35 | Federal Capital Territory | 3,171,148 | 2023 | +4.0% |
| 36 | Nasarawa | 2,948,849 | 2023 | +2.8% |
| 37 | Bayelsa | 2,583,352 | 2023 | +1.9% |
More on Nigeria: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- National Bureau of Statistics: Demographic Statistics Bulletin 2021, Annex 3: projected population by state (NPC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 336576a73415…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Demographic Bulletin 2023 datasheet, Annex 3: projected population by state, 2023 (NPC); Annex 8: internally displaced persons by state (NBS/IOM), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6764616bf151…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Demographic Statistics Bulletin 2022, Annexes 7-12: births, deaths, life expectancy, fertility and infant mortality by state (NPC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b1ee55e5952a…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022), Appendix D tables by state, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 26498590b192…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Internally Generated Revenue at State Level 2025, with data for 2019-2025 (IGR_DATA_2019_2025.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3710744bb15…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: CPI and Inflation Report September 2026: Table 1 (national) and Table 5 (state consumer price indices), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6951a9d0b87f…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch, May 2026: average price per litre by state, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b792493b6fb8…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Cost of a Healthy Diet, April 2026: state averages (naira per person per day), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f0db22b5253f…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.