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List of Ethnic Groups in Nigeria and the States Where They Are Found

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ethnic groups in Nigeria

Nigeria is home to hundreds of ethnic groups, each with its own name, language, customs and place in the country’s social history. The coming together of these different communities contributed to the formation of the country we know today as Nigeria.

From the northern states to the Niger Delta and the communities of the Middle Belt, Nigeria has a variety of peoples. Some ethnic groups are concentrated in particular states, while others have communities spread across several parts of the country.

The list below contains 371 ethnic groups in Nigeria, including alternative names and the states with which each group is associated. It includes well-known groups such as the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Tiv, Efik, Ibibio, Edo, Urhobo and Kanuri, alongside many smaller communities that receive less attention in general discussions about Nigeria.

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The number 371 should, however, be understood as the count in this particular compilation, not as a universally agreed official figure. Government and international sources commonly state that there are over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria. The precise number depends partly on how communities, subgroups and distinct ethnic identities are classified.

List of 371 Ethnic Groups in Nigeria and Their States

A to C

  1. Abayon – Cross River
  2. Abua (Odual) – Rivers
  3. Achipa (Achipawa) – Kebbi
  4. Adim – Cross River
  5. Adun – Cross River
  6. Affade – Yobe
  7. Afizere – Plateau
  8. Afo – Plateau
  9. Agbo – Cross River
  10. Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) – Cross River
  11. Akweya-Yachi – Benue
  12. Alago (Arago) – Plateau
  13. Amo – Plateau
  14. Anaguta – Plateau
  15. Anang – Akwa Ibom
  16. Andoni – Akwa Ibom, Rivers
  17. Angas – Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau
  18. Ankwei – Plateau
  19. Anyima – Cross River
  20. Attakar (Ataka) – Kaduna
  21. Auyoka (Auyokawa) – Jigawa
  22. Awori – Lagos, Ogun
  23. Ayu – Kaduna
  24. Babur – Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe
  25. Bachama – Adamawa
  26. Bachere – Cross River
  27. Bada – Plateau
  28. Bade – Yobe
  29. Bahumono – Cross River
  30. Bakulung – Taraba
  31. Bali – Taraba
  32. Bambora (Bambarawa) – Bauchi
  33. Bambuko – Taraba
  34. Banda (Bandawa) – Taraba
  35. Banka (Bankalawa) – Bauchi
  36. Banso (Panso) – Adamawa
  37. Bara (Barawa) – Bauchi
  38. Barke – Bauchi
  39. Baruba (Barba) – Niger
  40. Bashiri (Bashirawa) – Plateau
  41. Bassa – Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau
  42. Batta – Adamawa
  43. Baushi – Niger
  44. Baya – Adamawa
  45. Bekwarra – Cross River
  46. Bele (Buli, Belewa) – Bauchi
  47. Betso (Bete) – Taraba
  48. Bette – Cross River
  49. Bilei – Adamawa
  50. Bille – Adamawa
  51. Bina (Binawa) – Kaduna
  52. Bini – Edo
  53. Birom – Plateau
  54. Bobua – Taraba
  55. Boki (Nki) – Cross River
  56. Bkkos – Plateau
  57. Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) – Niger
  58. Bole (Bolewa) – Bauchi, Yobe
  59. Botlere – Adamawa
  60. Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) – Bauchi
  61. Bomboro – Bauchi
  62. Buduma – Borno, Niger
  63. Buji – Plateau
  64. Buli – Bauchi
  65. Bunu – Kogi
  66. Bura – Adamawa, Borno
  67. Burak – Bauchi
  68. Burma (Burmawa) – Plateau
  69. Buru – Yobe
  70. Buta (Butawa) – Bauchi
  71. Bwall – Plateau
  72. Bwatiye – Adamawa
  73. Bwazza – Adamawa
  74. Challa – Plateau
  75. Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) – Bauchi
  76. Chamba – Taraba
  77. Chamo – Bauchi
  78. Chibok (Chibbak) – Yobe
  79. Chinine – Borno
  80. Chip – Plateau
  81. Chokobo – Plateau
  82. Chukkol – Taraba

D to G

  1. Daba – Adamawa
  2. Dadiya – Bauchi
  3. Daka – Adamawa
  4. Dakarkari – Niger, Kebbi
  5. Danda (Dandawa) – Kebbi
  6. Dangsa – Taraba
  7. Daza (Dere, Derewa) – Bauchi
  8. Degema – Rivers
  9. Deno (Denawa) – Bauchi
  10. Dghwede – Borno
  11. Diba – Taraba
  12. Doemak (Dumuk) – Plateau
  13. Ouguri – Bauchi
  14. Duka (Dukawa) – Kebbi
  15. Duma (Dumawa) – Bauchi
  16. Ebana (Ebani) – Rivers
  17. Ebirra (Igbirra) – Edo, Kogi, Ondo
  18. Ebu – Edo, Kogi
  19. Efik – Cross River
  20. Egbema – Rivers
  21. Egede (Igedde) – Benue
  22. Eggon – Plateau
  23. Egun (Gu) – Lagos, Ogun
  24. Ejagham – Cross River
  25. Ekajuk – Cross River
  26. Eket – Akwa Ibom
  27. Ekoi – Cross River
  28. Engenni (Ngene) – Rivers
  29. Epie – Rivers
  30. Esan (Ishan) – Edo
  31. Etche – Rivers
  32. Etolu (Etilo) – Benue
  33. Etsako – Edo
  34. Etung – Cross River
  35. Etuno – Edo
  36. Palli – Adamawa
  37. Pulani (Pulbe) – Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.
  38. Fyam (Fyem) – Plateau
  39. Fyer (Fer) – Plateau
  40. Ga’anda – Adamawa
  41. Gade – Niger
  42. Galambi – Bauchi
  43. Gamergu-Mulgwa – Borno
  44. Qanawuri – Plateau
  45. Gavako – Borno
  46. Gbedde – Kogi
  47. Gengle – Taraba
  48. Geji – Bauchi
  49. Gera (Gere, Gerawa) – Bauchi
  50. Geruma (Gerumawa) – Plateau
  51. Geruma (Gerumawa) – Bauchi
  52. Gingwak – Bauchi
  53. Gira – Adamawa
  54. Gizigz – Adamawa
  55. Goernai – Plateau
  56. Gokana (Kana) – Rivers
  57. Gombi – Adamawa
  58. Gornun (Gmun) – Taraba
  59. Gonia – Taraba
  60. Gubi (Gubawa) – Bauchi
  61. Gude – Adamawa
  62. Gudu – Adamawa
  63. Gure – Kaduna
  64. Gurmana – Niger
  65. Gururntum – Bauchi
  66. Gusu – Plateau
  67. Gwa (Gurawa) – Adamawa
  68. Gwamba – Adamawa

H to L

  1. Gwandara – Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
  2. Gwari (Gbari) – Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
  3. Gwom – Taraba
  4. Gwoza (Waha) – Borno
  5. Gyem – Bauchi
  6. Hausa – Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, Sokoto, etc.
  7. Higi (Hig) – Borno, Adamawa
  8. Holma – Adamawa
  9. Hona – Adamawa
  10. Ibeno – Akwa Ibom
  11. Ibibio – Akwa Ibom
  12. Ichen – Adamawa
  13. Idoma – Benue, Taraba
  14. Igalla – Kogi
  15. Igbo – Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River, Bayelsa
  16. Ijumu – Kogi
  17. Ikorn – Cross River
  18. Irigwe – Plateau
  19. Isoko – Delta
  20. Isekiri (Itsekiri) – Delta
  21. Iyala (Iyalla) – Cross River
  22. Izondjo – Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers
  23. Jaba – Kaduna
  24. Jahuna (Jahunawa) – Taraba
  25. Jaku – Bauchi
  26. Jara (Jaar, Jarawa, Jarawa-Dutse) – Bauchi
  27. Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) – Bauchi, Plateau
  28. Jero – Taraba
  29. Jibu – Adamawa
  30. Jidda-Abu – Plateau
  31. Jimbin (Jimbinawa) – Bauchi
  32. Jirai – Adamawa
  33. Jonjo (Jenjo) – Taraba
  34. Jukun – Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Plateau
  35. Kaba (Kabawa) – Taraba
  36. Kadara – Taraba
  37. Kafanchan – Kaduna
  38. Kagoro – Kaduna
  39. Kaje (Kache) – Kaduna
  40. Kajuru (Kajurawa) – Kaduna
  41. Kaka – Adamawa
  42. Kamaku (Karnukawa) – Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger
  43. Kambari – Kebbi, Niger
  44. Kambu – Adamawa
  45. Kamo – Bauchi
  46. Kanakuru (Dera) – Adamawa, Borno
  47. Kanembu – Borno
  48. Kanikon – Kaduna
  49. Kantana – Plateau
  50. Kanufi – Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano, Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
  51. Karekare (Karaikarai) – Bauchi, Yobe
  52. Karimjo – Taraba
  53. Kariya – Bauchi
  54. Katab (Kataf) – Kaduna
  55. Kenern (Koenoem) – Plateau
  56. Kenton – Taraba
  57. Kiballo (Kiwollo) – Kaduna
  58. Kilba – Adamawa
  59. Kirfi (Kirfawa) – Bauchi
  60. Koma – Taraba
  61. Kona – Taraba
  62. Koro (Kwaro) – Kaduna, Niger
  63. Kubi (Kubawa) – Bauchi
  64. Kudachano (Kudawa) – Bauchi
  65. Kugama – Taraba
  66. Kulere (Kaler) – Plateau
  67. Kunini – Taraba
  68. Kurama – Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
  69. Kurdul – Adamawa
  70. Kushi – Bauchi
  71. Kuteb – Taraba
  72. Kutin – Taraba
  73. Kwalla – Plateau
  74. Kwami (Kwom) – Bauchi
  75. Kwanchi – Taraba
  76. Kwanka (Kwankwa) – Bauchi, Plateau
  77. Kwaro – Plateau
  78. Kwato – Plateau
  79. Kyenga (Kengawa) – Sokoto
  80. Laaru (Larawa) – Niger
  81. Lakka – Adamawa
  82. Lala – Adamawa
  83. Lama – Taraba
  84. Lamja – Taraba
  85. Lau – Taraba
  86. Ubbo – Adamawa
  87. Limono – Bauchi, Plateau
  88. Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) – Niger
  89. Longuda (Lunguda) – Adamawa, Bauchi

M to P

  1. Mabo – Plateau
  2. Mada – Kaduna, Plateau
  3. Mama – Plateau
  4. Mambilla – Adamawa
  5. Manchok – Kaduna
  6. Mandara (Wandala) – Borno
  7. Manga (Mangawa) – Yobe
  8. Margi (Marghi) – Adamawa, Borno
  9. Matakam – Adamawa
  10. Mbembe – Cross River, Enugu
  11. Mbol – Adamawa
  12. Mbube – Cross River
  13. Mbula – Adamawa
  14. Mbum – Taraba
  15. Memyang (Meryan) – Plateau
  16. Miango – Plateau
  17. Miligili (Migili) – Plateau
  18. Miya (Miyawa) – Bauchi
  19. Mobber – Borno
  20. Montol – Plateau
  21. Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) – Kaduna
  22. Muchaila – Adamawa
  23. Mumuye – Taraba
  24. Mundang – Adamawa
  25. Munga (Mupang) – Plateau
  26. Mushere – Plateau
  27. Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) – Plateau
  28. Ndoro – Taraba
  29. Ngamo – Bauchi, Yobe
  30. Ngizim – Yobe
  31. Ngweshe (Ndhang, Ngoshe-Ndhang) – Adamawa, Borno
  32. Ningi (Ningawa) – Bauchi
  33. Ninzam (Ninzo) – Kaduna, Plateau
  34. Njayi – Adamawa
  35. Nkim – Cross River
  36. Nkum – Cross River
  37. Nokere (Nakere) – Plateau
  38. Nunku – Kaduna, Plateau
  39. Nupe – Niger
  40. Nyandang – Taraba
  41. Ododop – Cross River
  42. Ogori – Kwara
  43. Okobo (Okkobor) – Akwa Ibom
  44. Okpamheri – Edo
  45. Olulumo – Cross River
  46. Oron – Akwa Ibom
  47. Owan – Edo
  48. Owe – Kwara
  49. Oworo – Kwara
  50. Pa’a (Pa’awa, Afawa) – Bauchi
  51. Pai – Plateau
  52. Panyam – Taraba
  53. Pero – Bauchi
  54. Pire – Adamawa
  55. Pkanzom – Taraba
  56. Poll – Taraba
  57. Polchi Habe – Bauchi
  58. Pongo (Pongu) – Niger
  59. Potopo – Taraba
  60. Pyapun (Piapung) – Plateau

Q to Z

  1. Qua – Cross River
  2. Rebina (Rebinawa) – Bauchi
  3. Reshe – Kebbi, Niger
  4. Rindire (Rendre) – Plateau
  5. Rishuwa – Kaduna
  6. Ron – Plateau
  7. Rubu – Niger
  8. Rukuba – Plateau
  9. Rumada – Kaduna
  10. Rumaya – Kaduna
  11. Sakbe – Taraba
  12. Sanga – Bauchi
  13. Sate – Taraba
  14. Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) – Bauchi
  15. Segidi (Sigidawa) – Bauchi
  16. Shanga (Shangawa) – Sokoto
  17. Shangawa (Shangau) – Plateau
  18. Shan-Shan – Plateau
  19. Shira (Shirawa) – Kano
  20. Shomo – Taraba
  21. Shuwa – Adamawa, Borno
  22. Sikdi – Plateau
  23. Siri (Sirawa) – Bauchi
  24. Srubu (Surubu) – Kaduna
  25. Sukur – Adamawa
  26. Sura – Plateau
  27. Tangale – Bauchi
  28. Tarok – Plateau, Taraba
  29. Teme – Adamawa
  30. Tera (Terawa) – Bauchi, Borno
  31. Teshena (Teshenawa) – Kano
  32. Tigon – Adamawa
  33. Tikar – Taraba
  34. Tiv – Benue, Plateau, Taraba
  35. Tula – Bauchi
  36. Tur – Adamawa
  37. Ufia – Benue
  38. Ukelle – Cross River
  39. Ukwani (Kwale) – Delta
  40. Uncinda – Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
  41. Uneme (Ineme) – Edo
  42. Ura (Ula) – Niger
  43. Urhobo – Delta
  44. Utonkong – Benue
  45. Uyanga – Cross River
  46. Vemgo – Adamawa
  47. Verre – Adamawa
  48. Vommi – Taraba
  49. Wagga – Adamawa
  50. Waja – Bauchi
  51. Waka – Taraba
  52. Warja (Warja) – Jigawa
  53. Warji – Bauchi
  54. Wula – Adamawa
  55. Wurbo – Adamawa
  56. Wurkun – Taraba
  57. Yache – Cross River
  58. Yagba – Kwara
  59. Yakurr (Yako) – Cross River
  60. Yalla – Benue
  61. Yandang – Taraba
  62. Yergan (Yergum) – Plateau
  63. Yoruba – Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi
  64. Yott – Taraba
  65. Yumu – Niger
  66. Yungur – Adamawa
  67. Yuom – Plateau
  68. Zabara – Niger
  69. Zaranda – Bauchi
  70. Zarma (Zarmawa) – Kebbi
  71. Zayam (Zeam) – Bauchi
  72. Zul (Zulawa) – Bauchi

References:

  1. 1. Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. “Culture.” Federal Republic of Nigeria. https://fmino.gov.ng/culture/culture/
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria. “The People.” https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/nigeria/the-people/
  3. African Union. “Federal Republic of Nigeria.” African Union Member States

Cite this article as: Teslim Omipidan. (June 20, 2025). List of Ethnic Groups in Nigeria and the States Where They Are Found. OldNaija. Retrieved from https://oldnaija.com/2025/06/20/ethnic-groups-in-nigeria/

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9 Comments

  5. here I want to remain u that u were forget only one tribe from yobe its gzim ethics.

    Reply

  6. Hi there i like this photo and would like to purchase it (the pictures with the beautiful ladies in traditional attire) thank you

    Reply

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