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Ethnic groups in Nigeria: Complete breakdown of 300+ tribes

Ethnic groups in Nigeria [Nigeria Gists]
Nigeria is a very ethnically diverse country with 371 ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Hausa, Yoruba and the Igbo.
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Nigeria stands out as one of the world's most linguistically diverse nations, with over 500 languages spoken, a testament to its rich ethnic heritage.

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These 371 ethnic groups are spread across its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Ethnicity in Nigeria

  • Hausa 30 (27.8%)

  • Yoruba 15.5 (14.4%)

  • Igbo 15.2 (14.1%)

  • Fulani 1 (0.93%)

  • Urhobo 7.8 (7.22%)

  • Tiv 2.4 (2.22%)

  • Kanuri 2.4 (2.22%)

  • Ijaw 8.8 (8.15%)

  • Others 24.9 (23.1%)

Some of the popular languages spoken in Nigeria are: Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw, Edo, Fulfude, Tiv, and Ibibio to name a few. In this article, we explore Nigeria’s ethnic diversity, listing the ethnic groups within each state.

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Ethnic Groups

Ethnic Groups in Nigeria by State

Abia State

  • Igbo (Ibo)

  • Ngwa

  • Ohafia

  • Aro

  • Umuahia

  • Bende

  • Ikwuano

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Adamawa State

  • Bata

  • Bolewa

  • Chamba

  • Fulani

  • Gwandara

  • Higi

  • Jimbin

  • Koma

  • Mboi

  • Piti

  • Tula

  • Waja

  • Yungur

Akwa Ibom State

  • Annang

  • Ibibio

  • Ibeno

  • Itu

  • Mkpat

  • Enin

  • Oron

  • Ukpom

  • Efik

Anambra State

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  • Igbo

  • Aguleri

  • Awka

  • Nnewi

  • Onitsha

  • Ekwulobia

  • Igboukwu

  • Umunze

  • Ichi

  • Umuleri

Bauchi State

  • Hausa

  • Ngas (Angas)

  • Jarawa

  • Sayawa

  • Mumuye

  • Tera

  • Bolewa

  • Ganawuri

  • Karai-Karai

  • Fulani

  • Kanuri

Bayelsa State

  • Ijaw

  • Nembe

  • Ogbia

  • Epie-Atissa

  • Ijaw (Ogbia subgroup)

  • Apoi

  • Engenni

  • Biseni

Benue State

  • Tiv

  • Idoma

  • Igede

  • Etulo

  • Abakwa

  • Udam

  • Akweya

  • Nyifon

Borno State

  • Kanuri

  • Shuwa Arab

  • Babur

  • Marghi

  • Ngizim

  • Bura

  • Kilba

  • Mandara

  • Waha

  • Daurama

  • Tangale

  • Mbum

Ethnic Groups

Cross River State

  • Efik

  • Ejagham (Ekoi)

  • Bekwarra

  • Boki

  • Quas

  • Yala

  • Ikom

  • Usung

  • Ogoja

  • Mkpani

Delta State

  • Urhobo

  • Isoko

  • Ijaw

  • Itsekiri

  • Ndokwa

  • Ukwuani

  • Aniocha Ibo (Igbo)

  • Okpe

  • Asaba

Ebonyi State

  • Igbo

  • Ezza

  • Ikwo

  • Abakaliki

  • Effium

  • Izzi

  • Ohaukwu

  • Inyimagu

Edo State

  • Bini (Benin)

  • Esan (Ishan)

  • Afemai (Afenmai)

  • Akoko Edo

  • Owan

Ekiti State

  • Yoruba

Enugu State

  • Igbo

  • Nsukka

  • Agbaja

  • Nkanu

  • Awgu

Gombe State

  • Fulani

  • Tangale

  • Tera

  • Waja

  • Bolewa

  • Tula

  • Kanuri

  • Hausa

  • Cham

  • Dadiya

  • Jara

  • Kamo

  • Pero

  • Lunguda

Imo State

  • Igbo

  • Ikeduru

  • Ngwa

  • Mbaise

  • Okigwe

  • Orlu

Jigawa State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Kanuri

  • Tuareg

  • Badawi

  • Kaje

Ethnic Groups

Kaduna State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Gwari

  • Kaje

  • Jaba

  • Atyap

  • Bajju

  • Katab

  • Ninzom

  • Gwandara

  • Jabo

Kano State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Kanuri

  • Badawa

  • Nupé

  • Zarma

  • Tera

  • Ngu

  • Ngas

Katsina State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Kanuri

  • Tera

  • Zarma

  • Nupé

  • Ngas

Kebbi State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Zarma

  • Kanuri

  • Tera

  • Kambari

  • Bassa

  • Dakarkari

Kogi State

  • Ebira

  • Okun (Yoruba)

  • Igala

  • Bassa

  • Gwandara

  • Koto

  • Kanuri

  • Kakanda

Kwara State

  • Yoruba

  • Nupe

  • Baruba

  • Shuwa Arabs

  • Piti

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Kambari

  • Maba

Lagos State

  • Yoruba

  • Awori

  • Egun

  • Egun-Mina

Ethnic groups

Nasarawa State

  • Gwari

  • Eggon

  • Hausa

  • Alago

  • Mada

  • Koro

  • Gwandara

Niger State

  • Nupe

  • Gwari

  • Hausa

  • Kambari

  • Dakarkari

Ogun State

  • Yoruba

  • Egba

  • Egbado

  • Awori

  • Remo

Ondo State

  • Yoruba

  • Ilaje

  • Ikale

  • Akoko

  • Ondo

Osun State

  • Yoruba

  • Ife

  • Ijesha

  • Osogbo

  • Ibolo

Oyo State

  • Yoruba

  • Ogbomoso

  • Ibadan

  • Oke-Ogun

Plateau State

  • Berom

  • Tarok

  • Ngas

  • Mwaghavul

  • Goemai

  • Ron

  • Afizere

  • Afo

  • Alago (Arago)

  • Amo

  • Anaguta

  • Angas

  • Ankwei

Rivers State

  • Ikwerre

  • Kalabari

  • Ijaw

  • Andoni

  • Ogoni

  • Eleme

  • Abua (Odual)

Sokoto State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Zabarmawa

  • Gobirawa

Taraba State

  • Jukun

  • Tiv

  • Mumuye

  • Wurkum

  • Kuteb

  • Fulani

Yobe State

  • Kanuri

  • Fulani

  • Bade

  • Ngizim

  • Affade

Zamfara State

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

  • Gobirawa

Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)

  • Gwari

  • Hausa

  • Fulani

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