The Yoruba are one of Africa's largest and most influential ethnic groups, renowned for their rich culture, art, and historical kingdoms like Oyo and Ife. Originating primarily from West Africa, they number over 50 million globally, with significant populations in multiple countries due to historical migrations, trade, and the transatlantic slave trade. This article details their presence worldwide, starting with a summary table of key countries and estimated populations based on recent ethnographic data.
| Country | Yoruba Population (est.) | Percentage of National Population | Primary Regions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 40–45 million | 20–25% | Southwest (Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti) | Largest concentration; core Yorubaland |
| Benin | 2–3 million | 12–15% | Southwest (Porto-Novo, Ouémé) | Known as Nago subgroup |
| Togo | 500,000–1 million | 10–12% | Southern plateaus | Significant minority |
| Ghana | 300,000–500,000 | 1–2% | Southeast (Volta Region) | Migrants and descendants |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 100,000–150,000 | <1% | Urban centers like Abidjan | Diaspora communities |
| Sierra Leone | 50,000–100,000 | ~1% | Freetown and provinces | Post-slave trade roots |
| United States | 1–2 million | <1% | Major cities (NYC, Houston, Atlanta) | African diaspora |
| United Kingdom | 200,000–500,000 | <1% | London, Manchester | Post-colonial migrants |
| Brazil | 1–2 million | <1% | Bahia, Rio de Janeiro | Descendants via slave trade |
| Cuba | 500,000–1 million | ~5–10% (Afro-Cubans) | Havana, Matanzas | Syncretic in Santería |
Table estimates aggregate recent sources (2024–2026); figures vary due to self-identification and migration. Total global Yoruba: ~55 million.
Origins and Historical Spread
The Yoruba trace their roots to ancient city-states in present-day Nigeria, with archaeological evidence from Ile-Ife dating back over 1,000 years. Yorubaland spans about 142,000 km², mostly in Nigeria (75%), Benin (19%), and Togo (6%). Colonial borders divided their homeland, but cultural unity persists through language (Yoruba, a Niger-Congo tongue with 45 million speakers) and traditions like Ifá divination.
Expansion beyond West Africa began with the 16th–19th century Atlantic slave trade, dispersing millions to the Americas. Today, modern migration for education, work, and refuge sustains diaspora communities. NIN data from Nigeria (2025) shows 27.75 million in the Southwest alone, confirming Yoruba as the largest single ethnic group there.
Yoruba in Nigeria: The Heartland
Nigeria hosts 80–90% of all Yoruba, concentrated in the Southwest geopolitical zone. States like Oyo (home to historic Oyo Empire) and Lagos (Africa's largest city) are Yoruba strongholds. Recent estimates peg their number at 40–45 million, or 20.7% of Nigeria's 230 million people. They dominate commerce, politics, and Nollywood, with cities like Ibadan boasting over 3 million Yoruba residents.
Urbanization draws rural Yoruba to Lagos, where they form 60–70% of the population. Challenges include ethnic tensions, but Yoruba unity via groups like Afenifere remains strong.
Presence in Neighboring West African Countries
Benin, Togo, and Ghana host indigenous Yoruba subgroups. In Benin, 2–3 million Yoruba (Nago) live in the southeast, influencing Fon culture. Porto-Novo, Benin's capital, has Yoruba roots. Togo's 500,000–1 million Yoruba cluster in the south, blending with Ewe neighbors. Ghana's 300,000+ Yoruba migrants in the Volta Region contribute to trade and Zongo Muslim communities.
Smaller pockets exist in Côte d'Ivoire (144,000 urban dwellers) and Sierra Leone (50,000+ from 18th-century migrations). These groups maintain Yoruba festivals like Osun-Osogbo, adapting to local contexts.
Diaspora in the Americas: Legacy of the Slave Trade
The transatlantic trade forcibly relocated 1–2 million Yoruba to the New World, profoundly shaping cultures. Brazil's 1–2 million Afro-Yoruba descendants in Bahia preserve Candomblé, a Yoruba-derived faith with orisha worship. Cuba's 500,000–1 million Afro-Cubans practice Santería (Regla de Ocha), blending Yoruba deities (orishas) with Catholicism—Shango became Saint Barbara.
In the U.S., 1–2 million African Americans trace partial Yoruba ancestry via DNA tests, concentrated in the South and urban Northeast. Caribbean nations like Trinidad and Haiti have smaller syncretic communities.
Modern Global Diaspora
Post-independence migration swelled Yoruba numbers in Europe and North America. The UK hosts 200,000–500,000, fueling London's Little Lagos in Peckham. Canada (100,000+) and the U.S. attract professionals, with Houston's Yoruba Day celebrations drawing thousands. Remittances exceed $20 billion annually from Nigeria's Yoruba diaspora.
Estimates for other spots: Benin Republic (core), Ghana, and emerging communities in South Africa and the UAE. Globally, Yoruba rank among Africa's top diasporas, with high education and entrepreneurship rates.
Cultural and Demographic Insights
Yoruba society emphasizes art (bronze heads of Ife), music (juju, afrobeats via artists like Burna Boy), and religion—40% traditionalists, 50% Christians, 10% Muslims. Population growth averages 2.5% yearly, driven by high fertility (4–5 children/family). Challenges include youth emigration ("Japa" syndrome) and climate impacts on Yorubaland farms.
Censuses undercount due to politics; Nigeria's stalled 2023 census highlights reliance on proxies like NIN (27M+ Yoruba). Joshua Project lists 11 countries with Yoruba clusters totaling 48 million.
Why Population Figures Vary
Estimates differ: Wikipedia (~50M total), Joshua Project (48M), older sources (44M). Self-identification, mixed ancestries, and migration cause flux. Digital tools like ancestry apps refine data, projecting 60 million by 2030.
This overview equips readers with a clear map of Yoruba global footprint, from Ife shrines to Harlem streets.
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