Nigeria is an African country blessed with so many mineral and human resources. The country of Nigeria is also the most populous black nation on Earth with an estimated population of 201 Million in 2017.
Even as the most populated country in Africa, the human population is largely distributed amongst the 36 states present in the country.
In this article, we shall be taking a look at the most populated states in Nigeria today and their current population right now according to Wikipedia and without further ado, let’s get right into the article.
Most Populated States In Nigeria (2024)
1) Kano State
- Estimated Population – 9.4 Million
Kano State is a Nigerian state located in the northern part of Nigeria. This state was created on the 27th of May, 1967 and it shares a border with other Nigerian states which include Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kaduna states.
As at the last census conducted in Nigeria in the year 2006, Kano State has rated the most populated Nigerian state with an estimated population of over 9.4 million people.
Kano State is also one of the most industrialized states in Nigeria today.
This state is mostly inhabited by citizens from the northern part of the country with a handful of citizens from other parts of Nigeria and foreigners too.
2) Lagos State
- Estimated Population – 9.1 Million
Occupying the 2nd position on this list of the populated Nigerian states, we have the richest Nigerian state – Lagos State.
In recent times, the population of Lagos State has been on the increase with a steady inflow of migrating citizens and non-citizens into the state.
Lagos State is also a highly commercialized state in Nigeria and this is one of the major reasons for overpopulation in the state. It is often referred to as the commercial capital of West Africa.
This state is also home to some of the most beautiful places in Nigeria and it also houses some of the nation’s national assets and heritage sites.
3) Kaduna State
- Estimated Population – 6.1 Million
Kaduna State is another Nigerian state with an extremely high population density right now.
It is a state located in the North-Western part of Nigeria. This state is mostly inhabited by Nigerian citizens whose histories are traced to northern Nigeria.
Apart from being one of the largest states in Nigeria in terms of landmass, Kaduna state is also a densely populated state with citizens of different Nigerian ethnic groups cohabiting together.
4) Kastina State
- Estimated Population – 5.8 Million
Kastina state is another North Western state on our list of the most populated states in Nigeria this year. The state was carved out of Kaduna state in 1987, and it shares a border with some other Nigerian state and it is also the home state of the current Nigerian President – Muhammadu Buhari.
The population of this state is largely dominated by citizens from the northern parts of Nigeria (Hausas and Fulanis), and farming is the most practiced trade there.
5) Oyo State
- Estimated Population – 5.5 Million
Occupying the 5th position on our list of the most populated Nigerian states, we have a state located in the heart of South Western Nigeria – Oyo State.
Oyo State is also rated as one of the most populous Nigerian states in the southwestern part of Nigeria with an estimated over 5.5 million people living and working in the state.
This state also shares a border with some other south Western States. These states include Ogun state, Kwara state, Osun state, and partly the Benin Republic.
In recent times, Oyo State has become one of the South Western States with the highest inflow of migrating Nigerians. Thanks to its ever-developing infrastructure financed by the Nigerian government.
6) Rivers State
- Estimated Population – 5.1 Million
Rivers state is one of the notable oil-producing Nigerian states with a high population of over 5.1 million people according to the last census conducted in 2006 (we expect it to be higher than this by now but we’ll stick to facts).
Aside from having huge crude oil deposits, Rivers State also has some other mineral and human resources.
This state was created on the 27th of May, 1967 and it is bordered by the Atlantic ocean and other South Eastern and South Southern states in Nigeria.
7) Bauchi State
- Estimated Population – 4.6 Million
Most Northern states in Nigeria are known for having overpopulation issues and Bauchi state (a state in North-Eastern Nigeria) is not an exception to this fact.
“Bauchi” as it is popularly called is a Northern state in Nigeria with an estimated population of 4.6 Million as at the last census carried out in Nigeria.
This state is also host to some notable educational institutions in Nigeria. Some of these institutions include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State University, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi amongst others.
This state is rated as one of the most populated states in Nigeria and it occupies the 7th spot on this list.
8) Jigawa State
- Estimated Population – 4.3 Million
Occupying the 8th position on this list of the most populated Nigerian states, we have a state located in North-Western Nigeria – Jigawa State.
Jigawa state has an estimated population of over 4.3 Million people which are mostly Nigerians from the Northern parts of the country. Farming is the most practiced occupation there.
9) Benue State
- Estimated Population – 4.3 Million
Benue state is another North Central state on this list of the most populated states in Nigeria. It is mostly known for agriculture as this occupation is very popular there.
The food basket of the nation as it is widely called is a rich agricultural region; popularly grown crops include; sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, and groundnuts, Palm Tree.
This state is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma, and Igede peoples, who speak Tiv, Idoma, and Igede languages respectively.
10) Anambra State
- Estimated Population – 4.1 Million
Anambra State is the most populated state in South Eastern Nigeria with a population of over 4.1 million people.
This state is mostly dominated by Nigerians from the Igbo tribe. The most practiced religion in this state is Christianity with just a handful of Muslims and African traditional worshippers.
