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How Many Ethnic Groups are in Nigeria?

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.

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

3 Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria

Below are the 3 major ethnic groups, they are also considered the largest due to population

  1. Hausa (30%)
  2. Yoruba (22%)
  3. 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)

How Many Ethnic Groups are There in Nigeria

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

How Many Ethnic Groups are in Nigeria?

Full list of ethnic groups in Nigeria

  1. Abayon – Cross River State
  2. Abua (Odual) – Rivers State
  3. Achipa (Achipawa) – Kebbi State
  4. Adim – Cross River State
  5. Adun – Cross River State
  6. Affade – Yobe State
  7. Afizere – Plateau State
  8. Afo – Plateau State
  9. Agbo – Cross River State
  10. Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) – Cross River State
  11. Akweya-Yachi Benue State
  12. Alago (Arago) – Plateau State
  13. Amo – Plateau State
  14. Anaguta – Plateau State
  15. Anang – Akwa Ibom State
  16. Andoni – Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State
  17. Angas – Bauchi State, Plateau State
  18. Anioma – Delta State, Edo State, Anambra State, Rivers State
  19. Ankwei – Plateau State
  20. Anyima – Cross River State
  21. Attakar (ataka) – Kaduna State
  22. Auyoka (Sub-Hausa) – Jigawa State
  23. Awori – Lagos State, Ogun State
  24. Ayu – Kaduna State
  25. Babur (Pabir)/Bura – Adamawa State, Borno State, Taraba State, Yobe State
  26. Bachama – Adamawa State
  27. Bachere – Cross River State
  28. Bada – Plateau State
  29. Bade – Yobe State
  30. Baggara Arabs Borno State
  31. Bahumono – Cross River State
  32. Bakulung – Taraba State
  33. Bali – Taraba State
  34. Bambora (Bambarawa) – Bauchi State
  35. Bambuko – Taraba State
  36. Banda (Bandawa) – Taraba State
  37. Banka (Bankalawa) – Bauchi State
  38. Banso (Panso) Adamawa State
  39. Bara (Barawa) – Bauchi State
  40. Barke – Bauchi State
  41. Baruba (Batonu) – Kwara State, Niger State
  42. Bashiri (Bashirawa) – Plateau State
  43. Bassa – Kaduna State, Kogi State, Niger State, Plateau State
  44. Batta – Adamawa State
  45. Baushi – Niger State
  46. Baya – Adamawa State
  47. Bekwarra – Cross River
  48. Bele (Buli, Belewa) – Bauchi State
  49. Betso (Bete) – Taraba State
  50. Bette – Cross River State
  51. Bilei – Adamawa State
  52. Bille – Adamawa State
  53. Bina (Binawa) – Kaduna State
  54. Bini (Edo) – Edo State
  55. Birom – Plateau State
  56. Bobua – Taraba State
  57. Boki (Nki) – Cross River State
  58. Bokkos – Plateau State
  59. Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) – Niger State
  60. Bole (Bolewa) – Bauchi State, Yobe State
  61. Botlere Adamawa State
  62. Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) – Bauchi State
  63. Bomboro – Bauchi State
  64. Buduma – Borno State,
  65. Buji – Plateau State
  66. Buli – Bauchi State
  67. Bunu – Kogi State
  68. Bura/Babur (Pabir) – Adamawa State, Borno State
  69. Burak – Bauchi State
  70. Burma (Burmawa) – Plateau State
  71. Buru – Yobe State
  72. Buta (Butawa) – Bauchi State
  73. Bwall – Plateau State
  74. Bwatiye – Adamawa State
  75. Bwazza – Adamawa State
  76. Challa – Plateau State
  77. Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) – Bauchi State
  78. Chamba – Taraba State
  79. Chamo – Bauchi State
  80. Chibok (Kibaku) – Borno State, Yobe State
  81. Chinine – Borno State
  82. Chip – Plateau State
  83. Chokobo – Plateau State
  84. Chukkol – Taraba State
  85. Daba – Adamawa State
  86. Dadiya – Bauchi State
  87. Daka – Adamawa State
  88. Dakarkari – Kebbi State, Niger State
  89. Danda (Dandawa) – Kebbi State
  90. Dangsa – Taraba State
  91. Daza (Dere, Derewa) – Bauchi State
  92. Degema – Rivers State
  93. Deno (Denawa) – Bauchi State
  94. Dghwede – Borno State
  95. Diba – Taraba State
  96. Doemak (Dumuk) – Plateau State
  97. Ouguri – Bauchi State
  98. Duka (Dukawa) – Kebbi State
  99. Duma (Dumawa) – Bauchi State
  100. Ebana (Ebani) – Rivers State
  101. Ebira – Edo State, Kogi State, Ondo State
  102. Ebu – Edo State, Kogi State
  103. Ebu – Edo State, Kogi State
  104. Efik – Cross River State
  105. Egbema – Rivers State
  106. Egede (Igedde) – Benue State
  107. Eggon Plateau State
  108. Egun (Gu) – Lagos State, Ogun State
  109. Ejagham – Cross River State
  110. Ekajuk – Cross River State
  111. Eket – Akwa Ibom
  112. Ekoi – Cross River State
  113. Ekpeye – Rivers State
  114. Engenni (Ngene) – Rivers State
  115. Epie – Bayelsa State
  116. Esan (Ishan) – Edo State
  117. Etche – Rivers State
  118. Etolu (Etilo) – Benue State
  119. Etsako – Edo State
  120. Etung – Cross River State
  121. Etuno – Edo State
  122. Palli – Adamawa State
  123. 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
  124. Fyam (Fyem) – Plateau State
  125. Fyer(Fer) – Plateau State
  126. Ga’anda – Adamawa State
  127. Gade – Niger State Nasarawa State
  128. Galambi – Bauchi State
  129. Gamergu-Mulgwa – Borno State
  130. Qanawuri – Plateau State
  131. Gavako – Borno State
  132. Gbedde – Kogi State
  133. Gengle – Taraba State
  134. Geji – Bauchi State
  135. Gera (Gere, Gerawa) – Bauchi State
  136. Geruma (Gerumawa) – Plateau State
  137. Geruma (Gerumawa) – auchi State
  138. Gingwak – Bauchi State
  139. Gira – Adamawa State
  140. Gizigz – Adamawa State
  141. Goemai – Plateau State
  142. Gokana – (Kana) Rivers State
  143. Gombi – -Adamawa State
  144. Gornun (Gmun) – Taraba State
  145. Gonia – Taraba State
  146. Gubi (Gubawa) – Bauchi State
  147. Gude – Adamawa State
  148. Gudu – Adamawa State
  149. Gure – Kaduna State
  150. Gurmana – Niger State
  151. Gururntum – Bauchi State
  152. Gusu – Plateau State
  153. Gwa (Gurawa) Adamawa State
  154. Gwamba – Adamawa State
  155. Gwandara – Kaduna State, Niger State, Plateau State
  156. Gwari (Gbagi)- Kaduna State, Kogi State, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Plateau State
  157. Gwong (Kagoma) – Kaduna State
  158. Gwom – Taraba State
  159. Gwoza (Waha) – Borno State
  160. Gyem – Bauchi State
  161. Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba) – Kaduna State
  162. Hausa – Bauchi State, Borno State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Niger State, Sokoto State, Taraba State
  163. Holma – Adamawa State
  164. Hona –  Adamawa State
  165. Ibeno – Akwa Ibom State
  166. Ibibio – Akwa Ibom State
  167. Ichen – Adamawa State
  168. Idoma – Benue State, Cross River State, Kogi State, Nassarawa State
  169. Igala – Anambra State, Edo State, Enugu State, Kogi State
  170. Igbo – Abia State, Anambra State, Delta State, Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Imo State, Rivers State
  171. Ijumu – Kogi State
  172. Ika – Delta State
  173. Ikom – Cross River State
  174. Ikwerre – Rivers State
  175. Irigwe – Plateau State
  176. Isoko – Delta State, Bayelsa State
  177. Isekiri (Itsekiri) – Delta State
  178. Iyala (Iyalla) – Cross River State
  179. Izon (Ijaw) – Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Ondo State, Rivers State
  180. Jahuna (Jahunawa) – Taraba State
  181. Jaku – Bauchi State
  182. Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse)Bauchi State
  183. Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) Bauchi State, Plateau State
  184. Jero Taraba State
  185. Jibu – Adamawa State
  186. Jidda-Abu – Plateau State
  187. Jimbin (Jimbinawa) – Bauchi State
  188. Jirai – Adamawa State
  189. Jonjo (Jenjo) – Taraba State
  190. Jukun – Bauchi State, Benue State, Plateau State, Taraba State
  191. Kaba(Kabawa)
  192. Taraba State – Kadara Kaduna State, Niger State
  193. Kafanchan – Kaduna State
  194. Kagoro – Kaduna State
  195. Kaje (Kache) – Kaduna State
  196. Kajuru (Kajurawa) – Kaduna State
  197. Kaka – Adamawa State
  198. Kamaku (Karnukawa) – Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State
  199. Kambari – Kebbi State, Niger State
  200. Kambu – Adamawa State
  201. Kanakuru (Dera – Adamawa State, Borno State
  202. Kanembu – Borno State
  203. Kanuri – Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
  204. Karekare (Karaikarai) – Bauchi, Yobe
  205. Karimjo – Taraba
  206. Kariya – Bauchi
  207. Katab (Kataf)  – Kaduna
  208. Kenern (Koenoem) – Plateau
  209. Kenton – Taraba
  210. Kiballo (Kiwollo) – Kaduna
  211. Kilba – Adamawa
  212. Kirfi (Kirfawa) – Bauchi
  213. Koma – Taraba
  214. Kona – Taraba
  215. Koro (Kwaro) – Kaduna, Niger
  216. Kubi (Kubawa) – Bauchi
  217. Kudachano (Kudawa) – Bauchi
  218. Kugama – Taraba
  219. Kulere (Kaler) – Plateau
  220. Kunini – Taraba
  221. Kurama – Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
  222. Kurdul – Adamawa
  223. Kushi – Bauchi
  224. Kuteb – Taraba
  225. Kutin – Taraba
  226. Kwalla – Plateau
  227. Kwami (Kwom) – Bauchi
  228. Kwanchi – Taraba
  229. Kwanka (Kwankwa) -Bauchi, Plateau
  230. Kwaro – Plateau
  231. Kwato – Plateau
  232. Kyenga (Kengawa) – Sokoto
  233. Laaru (Larawa) – Niger
  234. Lakka – Adamawa
  235. Lala – Adamawa
  236. Lama – Taraba
  237. Lamja – Taraba
  238. Lau – Taraba
  239. Limono – Bauchi, Plateau
  240. Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) – Niger
  241. Longuda (Lunguda) – Adamawa, Bauchi
  242. Mabo – Plateau
  243. Mada – Kaduna, Plateau
  244. Mama – Plateau
  245. Mambilla – Adamawa
  246. Manchok – Kaduna
  247. Mandara (Wandala) – Borno
  248. Manga (Mangawa) – Yobe
  249. Margi (Marghi) – Adamawa, Borno
  250. Matakarn – Adamawa
  251. Mbembe – Cross River, Enugu
  252. Mbol – Adamawa
  253. Mbube – Cross River
  254. Mbula – Adamawa
  255. Mbum – Taraba
  256. Memyang (Meryan) – Plateau
  257. Miango – Plateau
  258. Miligili (Migili) – Plateau
  259. Miya (Miyawa) – Bauchi
  260. Mobber – Borno
  261. Montol – Plateau
  262. Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) – Kaduna
  263. Muchaila – Adamawa
  264. Mumuye – Taraba
  265. Mundang – Adamawa
  266. Munga (Mupang) – Plateau
  267. Mushere – Plateau
  268. Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) – Plateau
  269. Ndoro – Taraba
  270. Ngamo – Bauchi, Yobe
  271. Ngizim – Yobe
  272. Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) – Adamawa, Borno
  273. Ningi (Ningawa) – Bauchi
  274. Ninzam (Ninzo)  – Kaduna, Plateau
  275. Njayi – Adamawa
  276. Nkim – Cross River
  277. Nkum – Cross River
  278. Nokere (Nakere) – Plateau
  279. Nunku – Kaduna, Plateau
  280. Nupe – Niger
  281. Nyandang – Taraba
  282. Ododop – Cross River
  283. Ogori – Kwara
  284. Okobo (Okkobor) – Akwa lbom
  285. Okpamheri – Edo
  286. Olulumo – Cross River
  287. Oron – Akwa lbom
  288. Owan – Edo
  289. Owe – Kwara
  290. Oworo – Kwara
  291. Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) – Bauchi
  292. Pai – Plateau
  293. Panyam – Taraba
  294. Pero – Bauchi
  295. Pire – Adamawa
  296. Pkanzom – Taraba
  297. Poll – Taraba
  298. Polchi Habe – Bauchi
  299. Pongo (Pongu) – Niger
  300. Potopo – Taraba
  301. Pyapun (Piapung) – Plateau
  302. Qua – Cross River
  303. Rebina (Rebinawa) – Bauchi
  304. Reshe – Kebbi, Niger
  305. Rindire (Rendre) – Plateau
  306. Rishuwa – Kaduna
  307. Ron – Plateau
  308. Rubu – Niger
  309. Rukuba – Plateau
  310. Rumada – Kaduna
  311. Rumaya – Kaduna
  312. Sakbe – Taraba
  313. Sanga – Bauchi
  314. Sate – Taraba
  315. Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) – Bauchi
  316. (Sigidawa) – Bauchi
  317. Shanga (Shangawa) – Sokoto
  318. Shangawa (Shangau) – Plateau
  319. Shan-Shan – Plateau
  320. Shira (Shirawa) – Kano
  321. Shomo – Taraba
  322. Shuwa – Adamawa, Borno
  323. Sikdi – Plateau
  324. Siri (Sirawa) – Bauchi
  325. Srubu (Surubu) – Kaduna
  326. Sukur – Adamawa
  327. Sura – Plateau
  328. Tangale – Bauchi
  329. Tarok – Plateau, Taraba
  330. Teme – Adamawa
  331. Tera (Terawa) – Bauchi, Bomo
  332. Teshena (Teshenawa) -Kano
  333. Tigon – Adamawa
  334. Tikar – Taraba
  335. Tiv – Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa
  336. Tula – Bauchi
  337. Tur – Adamawa
  338. Ubbo – Adamawa
  339. Ufia – Benue
  340. Ukelle – Cross River
  341. Ukwani (Kwale) – Delta
  342. Uncinda – Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
  343. Uneme (Ineme) – Edo
  344. Ura (Ula) – Niger
  345. Urhobo – Delta
  346. Utonkong – Benue
  347. Uyanga – Cross River
  348. Vemgo – Adamawa
  349. Verre – Adamawa
  350. Vommi – Taraba
  351. Wagga – Adamawa
  352. Waja – Bauchi
  353. Waka – Taraba
  354. Warja (Warja) – Jigawa
  355. Warji – Bauchi
  356. Wula – Adamawa
  357. Wurbo – Adamawa
  358. Wurkun – Taraba
  359. Yache – Cross River
  360. Yagba – Kwara
  361. Yakurr (Yako) – Cross River
  362. Yalla – Benue
  363. Yandang – Taraba
  364. Yergan (Yergum) – Plateau
  365. Yoruba – (Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi)
  366. Yott – Taraba
  367. Yumu – Niger
  368. Yungur – Adamawa
  369. Yuom – Plateau
  370. Zabara – Niger
  371. Zaranda – Bauchi
  372. Zarma (Zarmawa) – Kebbi
  373. Zayam (Zeam) – Bauchi
  374. 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

Yoruba Proverbs and Meaning

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 Targba

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