Ethnic groups in Nigeria: Complete breakdown of 300+ tribes

Nigeria stands out as one of the world's most linguistically diverse nations, with over 500 languages spoken, a testament to its rich ethnic heritage.

These 371 ethnic groups are spread across its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Ethnicity in Nigeria

• Hausa 30 (27.8%)

• Yoruba 15.5 (14.4%)

• Igbo 15.2 (14.1%)

• Fulani 1 (0.93%)

• Urhobo 7.8 (7.22%)

• Tiv 2.4 (2.22%)

• Kanuri 2.4 (2.22%)

• Ijaw 8.8 (8.15%)

• Others 24.9 (23.1%)

Some of the popular languages spoken in Nigeria are: Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw, Edo, Fulfude, Tiv, and Ibibio to name a few. In this article, we explore Nigeria’s ethnic diversity, listing the ethnic groups within each state.

ALSO READ: Which tribe divorces the most in Nigeria?

Ethnic Groups in Nigeria by State

Abia State

• Igbo (Ibo)

• Ngwa

• Ohafia

• Aro

• Umuahia

• Bende

• Ikwuano

Adamawa State

• Bata

• Bolewa

• Chamba

• Fulani

• Gwandara

• Higi

• Jimbin

• Koma

• Mboi

• Piti

• Tula

• Waja

• Yungur

Akwa Ibom State

• Annang

• Ibibio

• Ibeno

• Itu

• Mkpat

• Enin

• Oron

• Ukpom

• Efik

Anambra State

• Igbo

• Aguleri

• Awka

• Nnewi

• Onitsha

• Ekwulobia

• Igboukwu

• Umunze

• Ichi

• Umuleri

Bauchi State

• Hausa

• Ngas (Angas)

• Jarawa

• Sayawa

• Mumuye

• Tera

• Bolewa

• Ganawuri

• Karai-Karai

• Fulani

• Kanuri

Bayelsa State

• Ijaw

• Nembe

• Ogbia

• Epie-Atissa

• Ijaw (Ogbia subgroup)

• Apoi

• Engenni

• Biseni

Benue State

• Tiv

• Idoma

• Igede

• Etulo

• Abakwa

• Udam

• Akweya

• Nyifon

Borno State

• Kanuri

• Shuwa Arab

• Babur

• Marghi

• Ngizim

• Bura

• Kilba

• Mandara

• Waha

• Daurama

• Tangale

• Mbum

ALSO READ: This is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria - It's not the Benin Kingdom

Cross River State

• Efik

• Ejagham (Ekoi)

• Bekwarra

• Boki

• Quas

• Yala

• Ikom

• Usung

• Ogoja

• Mkpani

Delta State

• Urhobo

• Isoko

• Ijaw

• Itsekiri

• Ndokwa

• Ukwuani

• Aniocha Ibo (Igbo)

• Okpe

• Asaba

Ebonyi State

• Igbo

• Ezza

• Ikwo

• Abakaliki

• Effium

• Izzi

• Ohaukwu

• Inyimagu

Edo State

• Bini (Benin)

• Esan (Ishan)

• Afemai (Afenmai)

• Akoko Edo

• Owan

Ekiti State

• Yoruba

Enugu State

• Igbo

• Nsukka

• Agbaja

• Nkanu

• Awgu

Gombe State

• Fulani

• Tangale

• Tera

• Waja

• Bolewa

• Tula

• Kanuri

• Hausa

• Cham

• Dadiya

• Jara

• Kamo

• Pero

• Lunguda

Imo State

• Igbo

• Ikeduru

• Ngwa

• Mbaise

• Okigwe

• Orlu

Jigawa State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Kanuri

• Tuareg

• Badawi

• Kaje

Kaduna State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Gwari

• Kaje

• Jaba

• Atyap

• Bajju

• Katab

• Ninzom

• Gwandara

• Jabo

Kano State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Kanuri

• Badawa

• Nupé

• Zarma

• Tera

• Ngu

• Ngas

Katsina State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Kanuri

• Tera

• Zarma

• Nupé

• Ngas

Kebbi State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Zarma

• Kanuri

• Tera

• Kambari

• Bassa

• Dakarkari

Kogi State

• Ebira

• Okun (Yoruba)

• Igala

• Bassa

• Gwandara

• Koto

• Kanuri

• Kakanda

Kwara State

• Yoruba

• Nupe

• Baruba

• Shuwa Arabs

• Piti

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Kambari

• Maba

Lagos State

• Yoruba

• Awori

• Egun

• Egun-Mina

Nasarawa State

• Gwari

• Eggon

• Hausa

• Alago

• Mada

• Koro

• Gwandara

Niger State

• Nupe

• Gwari

• Hausa

• Kambari

• Dakarkari

Ogun State

• Yoruba

• Egba

• Egbado

• Awori

• Remo

Ondo State

• Yoruba

• Ilaje

• Ikale

• Akoko

• Ondo

Osun State

• Yoruba

• Ife

• Ijesha

• Osogbo

• Ibolo

Oyo State

• Yoruba

• Ogbomoso

• Ibadan

• Oke-Ogun

Plateau State

• Berom

• Tarok

• Ngas

• Mwaghavul

• Goemai

• Ron

• Afizere

• Afo

• Alago (Arago)

• Amo

• Anaguta

• Angas

• Ankwei

Rivers State

• Ikwerre

• Kalabari

• Ijaw

• Andoni

• Ogoni

• Eleme

• Abua (Odual)

Sokoto State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Zabarmawa

• Gobirawa

Taraba State

• Jukun

• Tiv

• Mumuye

• Wurkum

• Kuteb

• Fulani

Yobe State

• Kanuri

• Fulani

• Bade

• Ngizim

• Affade

Zamfara State

• Hausa

• Fulani

• Gobirawa

Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)

• Gwari

• Hausa

• Fulani

READ MORE: Meet the richest woman in the world worth $99.5billion