Do you wish to know how many ethnic groups are in Nigeria? Then read this post till the end as you will discover all the major ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Unity and Cultural Diversity in Nigeria
When we talk about Unity and cultural diversity, Nigeria is made the focal country because of the diversity of ethnic groups consisting of people with different languages, culture and beliefs co-existing together to share a common goal.
Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs
Unity in Diversity is a concept which signifies unity among individuals who have certain differences among them. These differences can be on the basis of culture, language, ideology, religion, sect, class, ethnicity, etc.
Furthermore, the existence of this concept has been since time immemorial.
Having understood what Unity and diversity mean, let’s move on to understanding how many ethnic groups are in Nigeria.
- Read Also: Most Wicked Tribe in Nigeria
What are the 6 Ethnic Groups in Nigeria?
Below are the most considered ethnic groups in Nigeria
- Hausa (30%)
- Yoruba (15.5%)
- Fulani (6%)
- Igbo (15.2%)
- Ibibio (1.8%)
- Tiv (2.4%)
- Ijaw (1.8%)
- Kanuri (2.4%)
3 Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria
Below are the 3 major ethnic groups, they are also considered the largest due to population
- Hausa (30%)
- Yoruba (22%)
- Igbo (also seen as Ibo, 18%)
Looking at their dominance, Hausa and Fulani have traditionally dominated in the north, Yoruba in the southwest, Igbo in the east, and Ijaw in the Niger Delta.
Religion
In Nigeria, there are two (2) major religions; Christianity and Islam. Muslims constitute the majority in the north and Christians the majority in the south
Islam dominates the North-Western part of Nigeria (Hausa, Fulani, and others) and a good portion of Northern Eastern (Kanuri, Fulani, and other groups). It also has a number of adherents in the South Western, Yoruba part of the country.
How Many Ethnic Groups are in Nigeria? (Full List)
We can not be precise about how many ethnic groups are in Nigeria but it is believed that Nigeria has about 250 to 300 ethnic groups consisting of different people who speak over 500 languages with diversity in religions, cultures, languages and attributes.
The current population of Nigeria is about 206,438,279 as of July 2020, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data and Nigeria ranks number 7 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
Below is a graph Map of ethnic groups in Nigeria
Full list of ethnic groups in Nigeria
- Abayon – Cross River State
- Abua (Odual) – Rivers State
- Achipa (Achipawa) – Kebbi State
- Adim – Cross River State
- Adun – Cross River State
- Affade – Yobe State
- Afizere – Plateau State
- Afo – Plateau State
- Agbo – Cross River State
- Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) – Cross River State
- Akweya-Yachi Benue State
- Alago (Arago) – Plateau State
- Amo – Plateau State
- Anaguta – Plateau State
- Anang – Akwa Ibom State
- Andoni – Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State
- Angas – Bauchi State, Plateau State
- Anioma – Delta State, Edo State, Anambra State, Rivers State
- Ankwei – Plateau State
- Anyima – Cross River State
- Attakar (ataka) – Kaduna State
- Auyoka (Sub-Hausa) – Jigawa State
- Awori – Lagos State, Ogun State
- Ayu – Kaduna State
- Babur (Pabir)/Bura – Adamawa State, Borno State, Taraba 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
- 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
- Betso (Bete) – Taraba State
- Bette – Cross River State
- Bilei – Adamawa State
- Bille – Adamawa State
- Bina (Binawa) – Kaduna State
- Bini (Edo) – Edo State
- Birom – Plateau State
- Bobua – Taraba State
- Boki (Nki) – Cross River State
- Bokkos – Plateau State
- Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) – Niger State
- Bole (Bolewa) – Bauchi 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/Babur (Pabir) – Adamawa State, Borno 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) – 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
- Degema – Rivers State
- Deno (Denawa) – Bauchi State
- Dghwede – Borno State
- Diba – Taraba State
- Doemak (Dumuk) – Plateau State
- Ouguri – Bauchi State
- Duka (Dukawa) – Kebbi State
- Duma (Dumawa) – Bauchi State
- Ebana (Ebani) – Rivers State
- Ebira – Edo State, Kogi State, Ondo State
- Ebu – Edo State, Kogi State
- Ebu – Edo State, Kogi State
- Efik – Cross River State
- Egbema – Rivers State
- Egede (Igedde) – Benue State
- Eggon Plateau 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
- Etche – Rivers State
- Etolu (Etilo) – Benue State
- Etsako – Edo State
- Etung – Cross River State
- Etuno – Edo State
- Palli – Adamawa State
- Fulani (Fulbe) – 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 – Niger State Nasarawa State
- Galambi – Bauchi State
- Gamergu-Mulgwa – Borno State
- Qanawuri – 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) – auchi 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, Plateau State
- Gwari (Gbagi)- Kaduna State, Kogi State, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Plateau State
- Gwong (Kagoma) – Kaduna State
- Gwom – Taraba State
- Gwoza (Waha) – Borno State
- Gyem – Bauchi State
- Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba) – Kaduna State
- Hausa – Bauchi State, Borno State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Niger State, Sokoto State, Taraba State
- Holma – Adamawa State
- Hona – Adamawa State
- Ibeno – Akwa Ibom State
- Ibibio – Akwa Ibom State
- Ichen – Adamawa State
- Idoma – Benue State, Cross River State, Kogi State, Nassarawa State
- Igala – Anambra State, Edo State, Enugu State, Kogi State
- Igbo – Abia State, Anambra State, Delta State, Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Imo State, Rivers State
- Ijumu – Kogi State
- Ika – Delta State
- Ikom – Cross River State
- Ikwerre – Rivers State
- Irigwe – Plateau State
- Isoko – Delta State, Bayelsa State
- Isekiri (Itsekiri) – Delta 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
- Jonjo (Jenjo) – Taraba State
- Jukun – Bauchi State, Benue State, Plateau State, Taraba State
- Kaba(Kabawa)
- Taraba State – Kadara Kaduna State, Niger State
- Kafanchan – Kaduna State
- Kagoro – Kaduna State
- Kaje (Kache) – Kaduna State
- Kajuru (Kajurawa) – Kaduna State
- Kaka – Adamawa State
- Kamaku (Karnukawa) – Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State
- Kambari – Kebbi State, Niger State
- Kambu – Adamawa State
- Kanakuru (Dera – Adamawa State, Borno State
- Kanembu – Borno State
- Kanuri – Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
- Karekare (Karaikarai) – Bauchi, Yobe
- Karimjo – Taraba
- Kariya – Bauchi
- Katab (Kataf) – Kaduna
- Kenern (Koenoem) – Plateau
- Kenton – Taraba
- Kiballo (Kiwollo) – Kaduna
- Kilba – Adamawa
- Kirfi (Kirfawa) – Bauchi
- Koma – Taraba
- Kona – Taraba
- Koro (Kwaro) – Kaduna, Niger
- Kubi (Kubawa) – Bauchi
- Kudachano (Kudawa) – Bauchi
- Kugama – Taraba
- Kulere (Kaler) – Plateau
- Kunini – Taraba
- Kurama – Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
- Kurdul – Adamawa
- Kushi – Bauchi
- Kuteb – Taraba
- Kutin – Taraba
- Kwalla – Plateau
- Kwami (Kwom) – Bauchi
- Kwanchi – Taraba
- Kwanka (Kwankwa) -Bauchi, Plateau
- Kwaro – Plateau
- Kwato – Plateau
- Kyenga (Kengawa) – Sokoto
- Laaru (Larawa) – Niger
- Lakka – Adamawa
- Lala – Adamawa
- Lama – Taraba
- Lamja – Taraba
- Lau – Taraba
- Limono – Bauchi, Plateau
- Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) – Niger
- Longuda (Lunguda) – Adamawa, Bauchi
- Mabo – Plateau
- Mada – Kaduna, Plateau
- Mama – Plateau
- Mambilla – Adamawa
- Manchok – Kaduna
- Mandara (Wandala) – Borno
- Manga (Mangawa) – Yobe
- Margi (Marghi) – Adamawa, Borno
- Matakarn – Adamawa
- Mbembe – Cross River, Enugu
- Mbol – Adamawa
- Mbube – Cross River
- Mbula – Adamawa
- Mbum – Taraba
- Memyang (Meryan) – Plateau
- Miango – Plateau
- Miligili (Migili) – Plateau
- Miya (Miyawa) – Bauchi
- Mobber – Borno
- Montol – Plateau
- Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) – Kaduna
- Muchaila – Adamawa
- Mumuye – Taraba
- Mundang – Adamawa
- Munga (Mupang) – Plateau
- Mushere – Plateau
- Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) – Plateau
- Ndoro – Taraba
- Ngamo – Bauchi, Yobe
- Ngizim – Yobe
- Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) – Adamawa, Borno
- Ningi (Ningawa) – Bauchi
- Ninzam (Ninzo) – Kaduna, Plateau
- Njayi – Adamawa
- Nkim – Cross River
- Nkum – Cross River
- Nokere (Nakere) – Plateau
- Nunku – Kaduna, Plateau
- Nupe – Niger
- Nyandang – Taraba
- Ododop – Cross River
- Ogori – Kwara
- Okobo (Okkobor) – Akwa lbom
- Okpamheri – Edo
- Olulumo – Cross River
- Oron – Akwa lbom
- Owan – Edo
- Owe – Kwara
- Oworo – Kwara
- Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) – Bauchi
- Pai – Plateau
- Panyam – Taraba
- Pero – Bauchi
- Pire – Adamawa
- Pkanzom – Taraba
- Poll – Taraba
- Polchi Habe – Bauchi
- Pongo (Pongu) – Niger
- Potopo – Taraba
- Pyapun (Piapung) – Plateau
- Qua – Cross River
- Rebina (Rebinawa) – Bauchi
- Reshe – Kebbi, Niger
- Rindire (Rendre) – Plateau
- Rishuwa – Kaduna
- Ron – Plateau
- Rubu – Niger
- Rukuba – Plateau
- Rumada – Kaduna
- Rumaya – Kaduna
- Sakbe – Taraba
- Sanga – Bauchi
- Sate – Taraba
- Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) – Bauchi
- (Sigidawa) – Bauchi
- Shanga (Shangawa) – Sokoto
- Shangawa (Shangau) – Plateau
- Shan-Shan – Plateau
- Shira (Shirawa) – Kano
- Shomo – Taraba
- Shuwa – Adamawa, Borno
- Sikdi – Plateau
- Siri (Sirawa) – Bauchi
- Srubu (Surubu) – Kaduna
- Sukur – Adamawa
- Sura – Plateau
- Tangale – Bauchi
- Tarok – Plateau, Taraba
- Teme – Adamawa
- Tera (Terawa) – Bauchi, Bomo
- Teshena (Teshenawa) -Kano
- Tigon – Adamawa
- Tikar – Taraba
- Tiv – Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa
- Tula – Bauchi
- Tur – Adamawa
- Ubbo – Adamawa
- Ufia – Benue
- Ukelle – Cross River
- Ukwani (Kwale) – Delta
- Uncinda – Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
- Uneme (Ineme) – Edo
- Ura (Ula) – Niger
- Urhobo – Delta
- Utonkong – Benue
- Uyanga – Cross River
- Vemgo – Adamawa
- Verre – Adamawa
- Vommi – Taraba
- Wagga – Adamawa
- Waja – Bauchi
- Waka – Taraba
- Warja (Warja) – Jigawa
- Warji – Bauchi
- Wula – Adamawa
- Wurbo – Adamawa
- Wurkun – Taraba
- Yache – Cross River
- Yagba – Kwara
- Yakurr (Yako) – Cross River
- Yalla – Benue
- Yandang – Taraba
- Yergan (Yergum) – Plateau
- Yoruba – (Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi)
- Yott – Taraba
- Yumu – Niger
- Yungur – Adamawa
- Yuom – Plateau
- Zabara – Niger
- Zaranda – Bauchi
- Zarma (Zarmawa) – Kebbi
- Zayam (Zeam) – Bauchi
- Zul (Zulawa) – Bauchi
Read Also:
Types and Ways of Acquiring Citizenship in Nigeria
Heroes and Heroines Who Fought For Nigerian Independence
Nigerian National Symbols and Meaning
History of Yoruba People, Culture and Origin
Conclusion: How Many Ethnic Groups are in Nigeria?
Conclusively, Nigeria is one of the most blessed nations on the African continent. The unity and cultural diversity of Nigeria explain how different people of different languages, cultures, beliefs and heritage coexist together as one Nigeria hence the slogan; Great People!, One Nation!! ✊✊
Benjamin is a serial SEO writer, educator and business consultant, with a strong affinity for digital innovation. FirstClassNigeria is his webspace where he shares skyscraping and informative content.
Latest posts by Benjamin Targba (see all)
- CAC Accredited Agent Registration 2024: Portal Requirements - January 15, 2024
- Best Coding Schools in Lagos 2024 - October 23, 2023
- How AI Technology Plays a Role in Education & Business - August 25, 2023