Ethnic groups in Nigeria and where you can find them

The idea of ethnic groups in Nigeria started back in the parliamentary system of government in 1960. Nigeria was divided into three major regions – Western, Northern, and Eastern. These regions were mostly occupied by what we now know as the three major ethnic groups – Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo.

In 1963, the Mid-Western Region was created from the Western region, which made it four regions. However, the idea of three major ethnic groups remained and hasn’t changed till today.

Today, Nigeria has six geo-political zones made up of the North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-West, South-East, and South-South. With 250 ethnic groups and over 500 languages, Nigeria is a country rich with diverse peoples and cultures.

Table of Content hide

1 What is an ethnic group?

2 Major ethnic groups in Nigeria

2.1 Igbo

2.2 Hausa

2.3 Yoruba

3 Minor ethnic groups in Nigeria

4 The state with the most ethnic groups

What is an ethnic group?

Britannica refers to an ethnic group as a social group or category of the population that, in a larger society, is set apart and bound together by common ties of race, language, nationality, or culture. It is a group of people who share similar culture, values, customs, and tradition that is unique to them and binds them together.

Major ethnic groups in Nigeria

As previously stated, there are three major ethnic groups in Nigeria – Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.

Igbo

The Igbo are people of southeastern Nigeria made up of five states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. Some of the Igbo population are also in Rivers and Delta States. According to the New World Encyclopedia, Igbo constitute about 17 percent of the Nigerian population. The Igbo language is part of the Niger-Congo language family.

The origin of the Igbo race remains largely unknown. However, a popular myth says the people originated from Nri, the birthplace of the patriarchal king-figure Eri. Before the advent of colonialism, the people operated a quasi-democratic system of government where there were no kings. Instead, each community had elders, also known as umunna, who decided the affairs of the people. Under colonialism, the Igbo became Christians and developed a strong sense of identity.

The people of the region are known to be intelligent, enduring, and industrious. However, they have struggled to politically integrate with the rest of the Nigerian population since the 1960s, which has seen the civil war where they attempted to secede and form the Republic of Biafra. The struggle is still on, with various groups like the MASSOB and IPOB springing with the mission to break the region away from the rest of the country.

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Hausa

The Hausa ethnic group is the largest in Northern Nigeria, particularly the North-West. The people speak Hausa and are also the largest group in West and Central Africa. Hausa is the second most spoken language after Arabic in both Africa and Asia. Daura, the birthplace of Nigeria’s current President, Mohammadu Buhari, is the oldest city of Hausaland.

However, the people were conquered by the Fulanis in the 14th century, which spread the Islamic religion in the region. The Fulanis have long integrated with the Hausas, adopting the language and inter-marrying with them. The Hausa operate a monarchical system of government where the Emir and Sultan are the supreme leaders. During colonial rule, the British operated a successful indirect rule system through the emirs.

The Hausa are generally known to be peaceful people but highly religious, which usually brings out their brutal sides when provoked. The people depend mostly depend on agriculture through the cultivation of sorghum, corn (maize), millet, and many other crops grown on rotation principles. They are also known to be politically savvy as they control they make up the majority of the voting population in Nigeria.

Yoruba

The Yoruba people, also known as Ìran Yorùbá, Ọmọ Odùduwà, Ọmọ Káàárọ̀-oòjíire form the major population in South-West Nigeria made up of Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo states. Some of the people are also scattered in Benin and northern Togo. The people speak Yoruba, a Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family.

The people are mostly farmers, growing yams, corn (maize), millet as staples and plantains, peanuts (groundnuts), beans, and peas as subsidiary crops, while cocoa remains the major cash crop. Others are traders and craftsmen. In fact, the Yoruba are known to be one the most skilled and productive craftsmen of Africa as they have been involved in the trade through blacksmithing, weaving, leatherworking, glassmaking, and ivory and wood carving.

Like the Hausas, the people operate a monarchical system of government where a king known as Oba was in charge, but his reign is checkmated by the cabinet. The people are known to strongly hold onto their culture, which is why the ancient kingdoms of Ile-Ife and Oyo still exist today. Also, many of the Yorubas are Christians and Moslems, but the indigenous traditional religion still exists.

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Minor ethnic groups in Nigeria

Here is a list of minor ethnic groups in Nigeria and where they are located:

Name of Ethnic Group	State
Abayon	Cross River State
Abua (Odual)	Rivers State
Achipa (Achipawa)	Kebbi State
Adara (Kadara)	Kaduna State, Niger State
Affade	Yobe State
Afizere	Plateau State
Afo (Eloyi)	Nasarawa State
Agbo	Cross River State
Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk)	Cross River State
Akweya-Yachi	Benue State
Alago (Arago)	Nasarawa State
Amo	Plateau State
Anaguta	Plateau State
Anaang	Akwa Ibom State
Andoni	Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State
Ankwei	Plateau State
Anyima	Cross River State
Atyap (Kataf/Katab, Attakar, Kagoro, Kafanchan, Marwa/Manchok)	Kaduna State
Auyoka (Sub-Hausa)	Jigawa State
Awori	Lagos State, Ogun State
Ayu	Kaduna State
Bura-Pabir	Adamawa State, Borno State, Yobe State
Bachama	Adamawa State
Bachere	Cross River State
Bada	Plateau State
Bade	Yobe State
Baggara Arabs	Borno State
Bahumono	Cross River State
Bakulung	Taraba State
Bali	Taraba State
Bambora (Bambarawa)	Bauchi State
Bambuko	Taraba State
Bajju (Kaje, Kajji)	Kaduna State
Banda (Bandawa)	Taraba State
Banka (Bankalawa)	Bauchi State
Banso (Panso)	Adamawa State
Bara (Barawa)	Bauchi State
Barke	Bauchi State
Baruba (Batonu)	Kwara State, Niger State
Bashiri (Bashirawa)	Plateau State
Bassa	Kaduna State, Kogi State, Niger State, Plateau State
Batta	Adamawa State
Baushi	Niger State
Baya	Adamawa State
Bekwarra	Cross River
Bele (Buli, Belewa)	Bauchi State
Berom (Birom)	Plateau State
Betso (Bete)	Taraba State
Bette	Cross River State
Bilei	Adamawa State
Bille	Rivers State
Bina (Binawa)	Kaduna State
Bini (Edo)	Edo State
Bobua	Taraba State
Boki (Nki)	Cross River State
Bokkos	Plateau State
Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa)	Niger State
Bole (Bolewa)	Bauchi State, Gombe State, Yobe State
Botlere	Adamawa State
Boma (Bomawa, Burmano)	Bauchi State
Bomboro	Bauchi State
Buduma	Borno State,
Buji	Plateau State
Buli	Bauchi State
Bunu	Kogi State
Bura-Pabir	Adamawa State, Borno State, Yobe State
Burak	Bauchi State
Burma (Burmawa)	Plateau State
Buru	Yobe State
Buta (Butawa)	Bauchi State
Bwall	Plateau State
Bwatiye	Adamawa State
Bwazza	Adamawa State
Challa	Plateau State
Chama (Chamawa Fitilai)	Bauchi State
Chamba	Taraba State
Chamo	Bauchi State
Chibok (Kibaku people)	Borno State, Yobe State
Chinine	Borno State
Chip	Plateau State
Chokobo	Plateau State
Chukkol	Taraba State
Daba	Adamawa State
Dadiya	Bauchi State
Daka	Adamawa State
Dakarkari	Kebbi State, Niger State
Danda (Dandawa)	Kebbi State
Dangsa	Taraba State
Daza (Dere, Derewa)	Bauchi State
Deno (Denawa)	Bauchi State
Dghwede	Borno State
Diba	Taraba State
Doemak (Dumuk)	Plateau State
Ouguri	Bauchi State
Duka (Dukawa)	Kebbi State
Dundudun (Dunka)	Taraba State
Duma (Dumawa)	Bauchi State
Ebana (Ebani)	Rivers State
Ebira	Edo State, Kogi State, Ondo State
Ebu	Edo State, Kogi State
Efik	Cross River State
Egbema	Rivers State
Egede (Igede)	Benue State, Cross River State
Eggon	Nasarawa State
Egun (Gu)	Lagos State, Ogun State
Ejagham	Cross River State
Ekajuk	Cross River State
Eket	Akwa Ibom
Ekoi	Cross River State
Ekpeye	Rivers State
Engenni (Ngene)	Rivers State
Epie	Bayelsa State
Esan (Ishan)	Edo State
Esit Ekid	Akwa Ibom State
Etche	Rivers State
Etolu (Etilo)	Benue State
Etsako	Edo State
Etung	Cross River State
Etuno	Edo State
Palli	Adamawa State
Fulani	Adamawa State, Bauchi State, Borno State, Gombe State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Kwara State, Niger State, Plateau State, Sokoto State, Taraba State, Yobe State, Zamfara State
Fyam (Fyem)	Plateau State
Fyer(Fer)	Plateau State
Ga’anda	Adamawa State
Gade people	Niger State Nasarawa State
Galambi	Bauchi State
Gamergu-Mulgwa	Borno State
Ganawuri	Plateau State
Gavako	Borno State
Gbedde	Kogi State
Gengle	Taraba State
Geji	Bauchi State
Gera (Gere, Gerawa)	Bauchi State
Geruma (Gerumawa)	Plateau State
Geruma (Gerumawa)	Bauchi State
Gingwak	Bauchi State
Gira	Adamawa State
Gizigz	Adamawa State
Goemai	Plateau State
Gokana (Kana)	Rivers State
Gombi	Adamawa State
Gornun (Gmun)	Taraba State
Gonia	Taraba State
Gubi (Gubawa)	Bauchi State
Gude	Adamawa State
Gudu	Adamawa State
Gure	Kaduna State
Gurmana	Niger State
Gururntum	Bauchi State
Gusu	Plateau State
Gwa (Gurawa)	Adamawa State
Gwamba	Adamawa State
Gwandara	Kaduna State, Niger State, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State
Gwari (Gbagyi)	Kaduna State, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Kogi State
Gwong (Kagoma)	Kaduna State
Gwom	Taraba State
Gwoza (Waha)	Borno State
Gyem	Bauchi State
Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba)	Kaduna State
Holma	Adamawa State
Hona	Adamawa State
Ibani	Rivers State
Ibeno	Akwa Ibom State
Ibibio	Akwa Ibom State
Ichen	Adamawa State
Idoma	Benue State, Cross River State, Kogi State, Nassarawa State
Igala	Kogi State
Ijumu	Kogi State
Ika	Delta State, Edo State
Ikom	Cross River State
Ikwerre	Rivers State
Irigwe	Plateau State
Iman	Akwa Ibom State
Isoko	Delta State, Bayelsa State
Itsekiri (Isekiri)	Delta State, Edo State, Ogun State
Itu	Akwa Ibom State
Itu Mbio Uso	Akwa Ibom State
Iyala (Iyalla)	Cross River State
Izon (Ijaw)	Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Ondo State, Rivers State
Jahuna (Jahunawa)	Taraba State
Jaku	Bauchi State
Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse)	Bauchi State
Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa)	Bauchi State, Plateau State
Jero	Taraba State
Jibu	Adamawa State
Jidda-Abu	Plateau State
Jimbin (Jimbinawa)	Bauchi State
Jirai	Adamawa State
Joinkrama	Rivers State
Jonjo (Jenjo)	Taraba State
Jukun	Bauchi State, Benue State, Plateau State, Taraba State
Kaba (Kabawa)	Taraba State
Kalabari	Rivers State
Kajuru (Kajurawa)	Kaduna State
Kaka	Adamawa State
Kamaku (Karnukawa)	Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State
Kambari	Kebbi State, Niger State
Kambu	Adamawa State
Kamwe	Adamawa State and Borno State
Kanakuru (Dera)	Adamawa State, Borno State
Kanembu	Borno State
Kanikon	Kaduna State
Kantana	Plateau State
Kanuri	Adamawa State, Borno State, Taraba State, Yobe State
Karekare (Karaikarai)	Bauchi State, Yobe State
Karimjo	Taraba State
Kariya	Bauchi State
Ke	Rivers State
Kenern (Koenoem)	Plateau State
Kenton	Taraba State
Kiballo (Kiwollo)	Kaduna State
Kilba	Adamawa State
Kirfi (Kirfawa)	Bauchi State
Kodei	Taraba State
Kona	Taraba State
Kono	Kaduna State
Koro (Kwaro)	Kaduna State, Niger State
Kubi (Kubawa)	Bauchi State
Kudachano (Kudawa)	Bauchi State
Kugama	Taraba State
Kugbo	Rivers State
Kulere (Kaler)	Plateau State
Kunini	Taraba State
Kurama(Akurmi)	Kaduna State, Jigawa State
Kurdul	Adamawa State
Kushi	Bauchi State
Kuteb	Taraba State
Kutin	Taraba State
Kwalla	Plateau State
Kwami (Kwom)	Bauchi State
Kwanchi	Taraba State
Kadung	Bauchi State, Plateau State
Kwaro	Plateau State
Kwato	Plateau State
Kyenga (Kengawa)	Kebbi State
Laaru (Larawa)	Niger State
Lakka	Adamawa State
Lala	Adamawa State
Lama	Taraba State
Lamja	Taraba State
Lau	Taraba State
Limono	Bauchi State, Plateau State
Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa)	Niger State
Longuda (Lunguda)	Adamawa State, Bauchi State
Mabo	Plateau State
Mada	Kaduna State, Plateau State
Mama	Plateau State
Mambilla	Adamawa State
Mandara (Wandala)	Borno State
Manga (Mangawa)	Yobe State
Margi (Marghi)	Adamawa State, Borno State
Mafa (Mofa)	Adamawa State, Borno State
Mbembe	Cross River State, Enugu State
Mbol	Adamawa State
Mbube	Cross River State
Mbula	Adamawa State
Mbum	Taraba State
Memyang (Meryan)	Plateau State
Milighili (Mighili)	Plateau State
Miya (Miyawa)	Bauchi State
Mobber	Borno State
Montol	Plateau State
Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa)	Kaduna State
Muchaila	Adamawa State
Mumuye	Taraba State
Mundang	Adamawa State
Munga (Lelau)	Taraba State
Munga (Mupang)	Plateau State
Mupun	Plateau State
Mushere	Plateau State
Mwahavul (Mwaghavul)	Plateau State
Ndoro	Taraba State
Ngas (Angas)	Plateau State, Bauchi State
Ngizim	Yobe State
Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang)	Adamawa State, Borno State
Nyiffon	Benue State
Ningi (Ningawa)	Bauchi State
Ninzam (Ninzo)	Kaduna State, Plateau State
Njayi	Adamawa State
Nkim	Cross River State
Nkum	Cross River State
Nokere (Nakere)	Plateau State
Nunku	Kaduna State, Plateau State
Nupe	Kogi State, Kwara State, Niger State
Nyam	Taraba State
Nyandang	Taraba State
Obolo	Rivers State, Akwa Ibom
Ododop	Cross River
Ogori	Kogi State
Ogoni	Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State
Ogba	Rivers State
Okobo (Okkobor)	Akwa Ibom State
Okirika	Rivers State
Okpamheri	Edo State
Olukumi	Delta State
Oron	Akwa Ibom State Cross River State
Ososo	Edo State
Owan	Edo State
Owe	Kogi State
Oworo	Kogi State
Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa)	Bauchi State
Pai	Plateau State
Panyam	Taraba State
Pero	Bauchi State
Pire	Adamawa State
Pkanzom	Taraba State
Poll	Taraba State
Polchi Habe	Bauchi State
Pongo (Pongu)	Niger State
Potopo	Taraba State
Pyapun (Piapung)	Plateau State
Qua	Cross River State
Rebina (Rebinawa)	Bauchi State
Reshe	Kebbi State, Niger State
Rindire (Rendre)	Plateau State
Rishuwa	Kaduna State
Ron	Plateau State
Rubu	Niger State
Rukuba	Plateau State
Rumada	Kaduna State
Rumaya	Kaduna State
Sakbe	Taraba State
Sanga	Bauchi State
Sate	Taraba State
Saya (Sayawa Za’ar)	Bauchi State, Kaduna State, Plateau State
Segidi (Sigidawa)	Bauchi State
Shanga (Shangawa)	Kebbi State
Shangawa (ShanKadunagau)	Plateau State
Shan-Shan	Plateau State
Shira (Shira )	Bauchi State
Shomo	Taraba State
Shuwa	Adamawa State, Borno State, Kaduna State, Yobe State
Sikdi	Plateau State
Siri (Sirawa)	Bauchi State
Srubu (Surubu)	Kaduna State
Sukur	Adamawa State
Sura	Plateau State
Tangale	Gombe State
Tarok (Yergam)	Plateau State, Taraba State, Nasarawa State
Teme	Adamawa State
Tera (Terawa)	Bauchi State, Borno State
Teshena (Teshenawa)	Kano State
Tigon	Taraba State
Tikar	Taraba State
Tiv	Benue State, FCT, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Plateau State, Taraba State
Tula	Gombe State
Tur	Adamawa State
Ubbo	Adamawa State
Udekeama	Rivers State
Ufia	Benue State
Ukelle	Cross River State
Ukwani (Kwale)	Delta State
Uncinda	Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State,
Uneme (Ineme)	Edo State
Ura (Ula)	Niger State
Urhobo	Delta State, Bayelsa State.
Utonkong	Benue State
Uwanno (Weppa-Wanno)	Edo State
Uyanga	Cross River State
Vemgo	Adamawa State
Verre	Adamawa State
Vommi	Taraba State
Wagga	Adamawa State
Waja	Bauchi State
Waka	Taraba State
Warja (Warja)	Bauchi State
Warji	Bauchi State
Wurbo	Adamawa State
Wurkun	Taraba State
Yache	Cross River State
Yagba	Kogi State
Yakurr (Yako)	Cross River State
Yalla	Benue State
Yandang	Adamawa State, Taraba State
Yott	Taraba State
Yumu	Niger State
Yungur	Adamawa State
Yuom	Plateau State
Zabara	Niger State
Zaranda	Bauchi State
Zarma (Zarmawa)	Kebbi State
Zayam (Zeam)	Bauchi State
Zul (Zulawa)	Bauchi State

The state with the most ethnic groups

Lagos State is the only state in Nigeria where you can find over 200 ethnic groups and languages. This is because the state is the commercial centre in Nigeria where the majority of manufacturing, trade and commerce takes place and has attracted people all over the country and beyond.

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