Nigeria is a multi-ethnic , multi-lingual country. There are more than 250 people of different ethnicities within its borders and the majority of them have very close ties to the countries that border her.
Although Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa are the three main ethnic groups that are referred to by the majority of Nigerians There are more than 250 different ethnicities in Nigeria apart from the famed three?
For many people, understanding Nigeria is easy. They are Hausa; Southwest belong to the Yorubians, and Igbos are the owners of their own South East. So, looking at things in this way is not just untrue, but unfair to different ethnic groups that reside in these regions.
Also read: Flewed out movie 2020 trailer
Do yourself a favor and become acquainted by this listing of the more than 250 ethnic groups of Nigeria.
PS: Find out which of the states has the most different ethnicities in Nigeria
Clue: It’s in the North
Find out more by reading
- Abia
- Igbo
- Adamawa
- Babur (Pabir)/Bura
- Bachama
- Banso (Panso)
- Batta
- Baya
- Bilei
- Bille
- Botlere
- Bwatiye
- Bwazza
- Daba
- Daka
- Palli
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Ga’anda
- Gira
- Gizigz
- Gombi
- Gude
- Gudu
- Gwa (Gurawa)
- Gwamba
- Holma
- Hona
- Ichen
- Jibu
- Jirai
- Kaka
- Kambu
- Kamwe
- Kanakuru (Dera)
- Kanuri
- Kilba
- Kurdul
- Lakka
- Lala
- Longuda (Lunguda)
- Mambilla
- Margi (Marghi)
- Maffa
- Mbol
- Mbula
- Muchaila
- Mundang
- Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang)
- Njayi
- Pire
- Shuwa
- Sukur
- Teme
- Tur
- Ubbo
- Vemgo
- Verre
- Wagga
- Wurbo
- Yandang
- Yungur
III. Akwa Ibom
- Anang
- Andoni
- Eket
- Ibeno
- Ibibio
- Anambra
- Igbo
2.. Igala
- Anioma
- Bauchi
- Angas
- Bambora (Bambarawa)
- Banka (Bankalawa)
- Bara (Barawa)
- Barke
- Bele (Belewa)
- Buli
- Burak
- Buta (Butawa)
- Chama (Chamawa Fitilai)
- Chamo
- Dadiya
- Daza (Dere, Derewa)
- Deno (Denawa)
- Ouguri
- Duma (Dumawa)
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Galambi
- Geji
- Gera (Gere, Gerawa)
- Gingwak
- Gubi (Gubawa)
- Gyem
- Hausa
- Jaku
- Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse)
- Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa)
- Jimbin (Jimbinawa)
- Jukun
- Bayelsa
- Epie
- Isoko
- Izon (Ijaw)
- Urhobo
VII. Benue
- Akweya-Yachi
- Egede (Igedde)
- Etolu (Etilo)
- Idoma
- Jukun
- Ufia
- Utonkong
VIII. Borno
- Babur (Pabir)/Bura
- Baggara Arabs
- Buduma
- Bura/Babur (Pabir)
- Chibok (Kibaku)
- Chinine
- Dghwede
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Gamergu-Mulgwa
- Gavako
- Gwoza (Waha)
- Hausa
- Kanakuru (Dera)
- Kanembu
- Cross River
- Abayon
- Adim
- Adun
- Agbo
- Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk)
- Anyima
- Bachere
- Bahumono
- Bekwarra
- Bette
- Boki (Nki)
- Efik
- Ejagbam
- Ekajuk
- Ekoi
- Etung
- Idoma
- Ikom
- Iyala (Iyalla)
- Delta
- Anioma
- Igbo
- Ika
- Isoko
- Isekiri (Itsekiri)
- Izon (Ijaw)
- Urhobo
- Ebonyi
- Igbo
XII. Edo
- Anioma
- Bini (Edo)
- Ebira
- Ebu
- Esan (Ishan)
- Etsako
- Etuno
- Igala
- Izon (Ijaw)
- Uwanno
XIII. Ekiti
- Yoruba
XIV. Enugu
- Igala
- Igbo
- FCT
- Gwari (Gbagi)
- Tiv
XVI. Gombe
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Tangale
- Tula
XVII. Imo
- Igbo
XVIII. Jigawa
- Auyoka (Sub-Hausa)
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Hausa
XIX. Kaduna
- Attakar (ataka)
- Ayu
- Bassa
- Bina (Binawa)
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Gure
- Gwandara
- Gwari (Gbagi)
- Gwong (Kagoma)
- Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba)
- Hausa
- Kadara
- Kafanchan
- Kagoro
- Kaje
- Kajuru
- Kamaka (Karnukawa)
- Katsina
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Hausa
XXI. Kano
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Hausa
XXII. Kebbi
- Achipa (Achipawa)
- Dakarkari
- Danda (Dandawa)
- Duka (Dukawa)
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Hausa
- Kamaku (Karnukawa)
- Kambari
XXIII. Kogi
- Bassa
- Bunu
- Ebira
- Ebu
- Gbedde
- Gwari (Gbagi)
- Idoma
- Igala
- Ijumu
XXIV. Kwara
- Fulani
- Baruba (Batonu)
- Yoruba
XXV. Lagos
- Awori
- Egun (Gu)
- Yoruba
XXVI. Nasarawa
- Afo (Eloyi)
- Alago
- Gade
- Gwari (Gbagi)
- Hausa
XXVII. Niger
- Baruba (Batonu)
- Bassa
- Baushi
- Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa)
- Dakarkari
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Gade
- Gurmana
- Gwandara
- Gwari (Gbagi)
- Hausa
- Kadara
- Kamaku (Karnukawa)
- Kambari
XXVIII. Ogun
- Awori
- Egun (Gu)
- Yoruba
XXIX. Ondo
- Ebira
- Izon (Ijaw)
- Yoruba
XXX. Osun
- Yoruba
XXXI. Oyo
- Yoruba
XXXII. Plateau
- Afizere
- Amo
- Anaguta
- Ankwei
- Bada
- Bashiri (Bashirawa)
- Bassa
- Berom (Birom)
- Bokkos
- Buji
- Burma (Burmawa)
- Bwall
- Challa
- Chip
- Chokobo
- Doemak (Dumuk)
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Fyam (Fyem)
- Fyer (Fer)
- Qanawuri
- Geruma (Gerumawa)
- Goemai
- Gusu
- Irigwe
- Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa)
- Jidda-Abu
- Jukun
- Kantana
- Kenern (Koenoem)
- Kulere (Kaler)
- Kwalla
- Kadung
- Kwaro
- Kwato
- Limono
- Mabo
- Mada
- Mama
- Memyang (Meryan)
- Milighili (Mighili)
- Montol
- Munga (Mupang)
- Mupun
- Mushere
- Mwahavul (Mwaghavul)
- Ngas (Angas)
- Ninzam (Ninzo)
- Nokere (Nakere)
- Nunku
- Pai
- Pyapun (Piapung)
- Rindire (Rendre)
- Ron
- Rukuba
- Saya (Sayawa Za’ar)
- Shangawa (ShanKadunagau)
- Shan-Shan
- Sikdi
- Sura
- Tarok
- Tiv
- Yergan (Yergum)
- Yuom
XXXIII. Rivers
- Abua (Odual)
- Andoni
- Anioma
- Bille
- Ebana (Ebani)
- Egbema
- Ekpeye
- Engenni (Ngene)
- Etche
- Gokana (Kana)
- Ibani
- Igbo
- Ikwerre
- Izon (Ijaw)
- Joinkrama)
- Kalabari
- Ke
- Kugbo
- Obolo
- Ogoni
- Ogba
- Okirika
- Udekeama
XXXIV. Sokoto
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Hausa
XXV. Taraba
- Bakulung
- Bali
- Bambuko
- Banda (Bandawa)
- Betso (Bete)
- Bobua
- Chamba
- Chukkol
- Dangsa
- Diba
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Gengle
- Gornun (Gmun)
- Gonia
- Gwom
- Hausa
- Jahuna (Jahunawa)
- Jero
- Jonjo (Jenjo)
- Jukun
- Kaba (Kabawa)
- Kanuri
- Karimjo
- Kenton
- Kodei
- Kona
- Kugama
- Kunini
- Kuteb
- Kutin
- Kwanchi
- Lama
- Lamja
- Lau
- Mbum
- Mumuye
- Munga (Lelau)
- Ndoro
- Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang)
- Nyandang
- Panyam
- Pkanzom
- Poll
- Potopo
- Sakbe
- Sate
- Shomo
- Tarok
- Tigon
- Tikar
- Tiv
- Vommi
- Waka
- Wurkun
- Yandang
- Yott
XXXVI. Yobe
- Affade
- Bura-Pabir
- Bade
- Bole (Bolewa)
- Buru
- Chibok (Kibaku)
- Fulani (Fulbe)
- Kanuri
- Karekare (Karaikarai)
- Manga (Mangawa)
- Ngizim
- Shuwa
XXXVII. Zamfara
- Fulani (Fulbe)
Conclusion
Based on 2020’s findings, Yoruba is the biggest ethnic group in Nigeria with 23percent of Nigeria’s country’s population as well as Hausa is second with 21 percent. Other ethnic groups include:
Igbo – 18%
Ijaw – 5%
Fulani – 3%
Ibibio – 2.8%
Tiv – 2.2%
Kanuri – 1.7%
Others – 23%