A Comprehensive List of Ethnic Groups / Tribes of Nigeria by Population and Region

The Tribes of Nigeria represent one of Africa's most diverse ethnic landscapes, with 371 distinct ethnic groups calling this West African nation home. Understanding the distribution and demographics of Nigeria's ethnic communities provides crucial insights into the country's complex social fabric and regional dynamics.

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Nigeria's Ethnic Diversity Overview

Nigeria stands out as one of the world's most linguistically diverse nations, with over 500 languages spoken among its 223 million people. The Tribes of Nigeria are distributed across six geopolitical zones, each with distinct cultural, linguistic, and historical characteristics that have shaped the nation's identity for centuries.

Population Distribution by Major Groups

Rank	Ethnic Group	Population (Millions)	Percentage	Primary Region
1	Hausa	67.0	30.0%	North-West
2	Yoruba	34.7	15.5%	South-West
3	Igbo	34.0	15.2%	South-East
4	Fulani	13.4	6.0%	North-West/North-Central
5	Tiv	5.4	2.4%	North-Central
6	Kanuri	5.4	2.4%	North-East

"Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups, with the three largest - Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo - constituting more than 60% of the population."

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The Big Three: Dominant Ethnic Groups

Hausa People - The Largest Group

The Hausa are the biggest ethnic group in Nigeria, with estimates of their population reaching 67 million, making up approximately 25% of the Nigerian population. The Tribes of Nigeria analysis reveals that the Hausa culture is remarkably homogenized throughout northern Nigeria.

Hausa Distribution:

• Primary States: Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara
• Language: Hausa (Chadic language family)
• Religion: Predominantly Islam
• Economic Activities: Agriculture, trade, crafts

Yoruba People - The Western Powerhouse

The Yoruba represent the second-largest group among the Tribes of Nigeria, concentrated primarily in the southwestern region. The South-West Zone is home to 47 million people, accounting for nearly 22% of the country's population.

Yoruba Subgroups and Distribution:

Subgroup	Primary Location	Population	Notable Cities
Lagos Yoruba	Lagos State	8.5 million	Lagos, Ikeja
Oyo Yoruba	Oyo State	7.2 million	Ibadan, Ogbomoso
Osun Yoruba	Osun State	4.1 million	Osogbo, Ife
Ogun Yoruba	Ogun State	5.2 million	Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode
Ondo Yoruba	Ondo State	4.7 million	Akure, Ondo
Ekiti Yoruba	Ekiti State	3.3 million	Ado-Ekiti

Igbo People - The Eastern Heritage

Nigeria's south is divided into a Yoruba-speaking area in the west and an Igbo-speaking area in the east. The Igbo people form the third-largest group in the Tribes of Nigeria, known for their entrepreneurial spirit and republican political traditions.

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Regional Distribution by Geopolitical Zones

"Since Hausa and Fulani prefer being paired and called Hausa, it is appropriate to have six major ethnic groups representing each of the six geo-political zones."

North-West Zone

Consisting of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States, this region is dominated by Hausa-Fulani groups.

Ethnic Group	Population	Primary States	Cultural Features
Hausa	45 million	All states	Islamic culture, trade
Fulani	8 million	Sokoto, Kebbi	Pastoralism, Emirates
Gwari	1.2 million	Kaduna	Agriculture
Nupe	0.8 million	Niger (partial)	River valley culture

North-East Zone

Consisting of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States, this region showcases significant diversity among the Tribes of Nigeria.

Major Groups:

• Kanuri: 5.4 million (Borno, Yobe)
• Babur: 0.8 million (Adamawa, Taraba)
• Marghi: 0.5 million (Adamawa, Borno)
• Mumuye: 0.4 million (Taraba)
• Chamba: 0.3 million (Adamawa, Taraba)

North-Central Zone

Consisting of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, this zone represents the most ethnically diverse region among the Tribes of Nigeria.

State	Major Ethnic Groups	Population	Languages
Benue	Tiv, Idoma, Igede	5.7 million	Tiv, Idoma
Plateau	Berom, Angas, Ron	4.2 million	Berom, Hausa
Kogi	Igala, Ebira, Okun	4.4 million	Igala, Yoruba
Niger	Nupe, Gwari, Kamuku	5.6 million	Nupe, Hausa
Nasarawa	Eggon, Alago, Gwandara	2.5 million	Hausa, Eggon
Kwara	Yoruba, Nupe, Bariba	3.2 million	Yoruba, Nupe

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Southern Nigeria: Coastal and Forest Peoples

South-West Zone - Yoruba Heartland

The Tribes of Nigeria in this region are predominantly Yoruba, with some minority groups.

Ethnic Composition:

• Yoruba: 95% (44.6 million)
• Others: 5% (2.4 million)
  • Fulani (settled)
  • Hausa (traders)
  • Other Nigerian migrants

South-East Zone - Igbo Territory

It comprises five states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. This zone has the highest ethnic homogeneity among the Tribes of Nigeria regional distributions.

State	Major Subgroups	Population	Notable Features
Anambra	Onitsha, Awka Igbo	5.5 million	Commercial hub
Imo	Owerri, Orlu Igbo	5.4 million	Cultural center
Abia	Ngwa, Umuahia Igbo	3.7 million	Industrial base
Enugu	Nsukka, Enugu Igbo	4.4 million	Coal mining heritage
Ebonyi	Afikpo, Abakaliki Igbo	2.9 million	Agricultural focus

South-South Zone - Niger Delta Peoples

This region contains the most linguistically diverse Tribes of Nigeria, with over 40 distinct ethnic groups.

Major Ethnic Groups:

Group	Population	Primary States	Economic Base
Ijaw	4.0 million	Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers	Oil, fishing
Urhobo	2.1 million	Delta	Oil, agriculture
Itsekiri	0.8 million	Delta	Trade, oil
Efik	1.2 million	Cross River	Trade, education
Ibibio	4.0 million	Akwa Ibom	Agriculture, oil
Annang	2.0 million	Akwa Ibom	Agriculture
Ogoni	0.8 million	Rivers	Oil, activism
Edo	1.7 million	Edo	Arts, agriculture

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Middle Belt Diversity

"The Middle Belt has many smaller, differing but related groups, representing some of the most ancient settlements among the Tribes of Nigeria."

Plateau State Ethnic Mosaic

Plateau State exemplifies the diversity of Tribes of Nigeria with over 40 indigenous groups:

Major Groups:

• Berom: 1.2 million
• Angas: 0.4 million
• Ron: 0.3 million
• Taroh: 0.2 million
• Goemai: 0.2 million
• Mwaghavul: 0.1 million

Benue Valley Peoples

The Benue River valley hosts several significant groups among the Tribes of Nigeria:

Group	Population	Language Family	Primary Occupation
Tiv	5.4 million	Bantoid	Agriculture
Idoma	1.2 million	Kwa	Farming, trade
Igede	0.3 million	Kwa	Agriculture
Etulo	0.1 million	Kwa	Farming

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Minority Groups and Linguistic Diversity

Endangered Languages and Small Communities

Among the Tribes of Nigeria, several smaller groups face challenges in preserving their cultural heritage:

At-Risk Communities:

• Rukuba (Plateau): 50,000 speakers
• Koro (Kaduna): 45,000 speakers
• Dulbu (Plateau): 35,000 speakers
• Kurama (Kaduna): 30,000 speakers
• Kamwe (Adamawa): 25,000 speakers

Religious Distribution Patterns

The Tribes of Nigeria show distinct religious patterns correlating with regional and ethnic boundaries:

Region	Dominant Religion	Ethnic Correlation	Percentage
North	Islam	Hausa-Fulani, Kanuri	95%
Middle Belt	Christianity/Traditional	Tiv, Plateau groups	70%
South	Christianity	Yoruba, Igbo, minorities	85%

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Contemporary Challenges and Unity

Inter-ethnic Relations

The diversity of Tribes of Nigeria presents both opportunities and challenges for national unity:

Positive Interactions:

• Inter-marriage between ethnic groups
• Economic cooperation and trade
• Shared educational institutions
• Cultural festivals and exchanges

Areas of Tension:

• Resource allocation disputes
• Political representation issues
• Land use conflicts
• Religious differences

Urbanization Impact

Modern Nigerian cities showcase the blending of various Tribes of Nigeria:

City	Primary Groups	Population	Ethnic Mix
Lagos	Yoruba, Igbo, others	21 million	Cosmopolitan
Kano	Hausa, Fulani	4.1 million	Northern dominant
Ibadan	Yoruba	3.6 million	Homogeneous
Port Harcourt	Ijaw, Igbo, others	2.3 million	Multi-ethnic
Abuja	All groups	3.8 million	Federal mix

The rich tapestry of Nigeria's ethnic diversity demonstrates how the Tribes of Nigeria continue to maintain their distinct identities while contributing to a unified national narrative. This demographic complexity requires continued efforts toward inclusive governance, equitable development, and mutual understanding among all communities that call Nigeria home.