:List of ethnic groups in Nigeria
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Nigeria is a very ethnically diverse country with 371 ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Hausa, Yoruba and the Igbo.{{Cite web |title=Full List of All 371 Tribes in Nigeria, States Where They Originate - Document - Gale Academic OneFile Select |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA491469799&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w&userGroupName=anon~f2b73e88&aty=open-web-entry |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=go.gale.com}} Nigeria has one official language which is English, as a result of the British colonial rule over the nation. Nevertheless, it is not spoken as a first language in the entire country because other languages have been around for over a thousand years making them the major languages in terms of numbers of native speakers. Nigeria stands out as one of the world's most linguistically diverse nations, with over 500 languages spoken among its 223 million{{Cite web |title=Population in Africa, by country 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121246/population-in-africa-by-country/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Statista |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ologunagbe |first=Olamide |date=2023-04-19 |title=Nigeria's population to hit 223.8 million in 2023 - UN - |url=https://businessday.ng/news/article/nigerias-population-to-hit-223-8-million-in-2023-un/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Businessday NG |language=en-US}} people (2023 estimate{{Cite web |title=World Bank Open Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=World Bank Open Data}}), a testament to its rich ethnic heritage. Some of the popular languages spoken in Nigeria are listed as follows: Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ibibio, Ijaw, Edo, Fulfude, and Tiv to name a few.{{Cite web|work=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/|access-date=2020-06-21 |title=Africa: Nigeria}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Top 10 Most Spoken Languages in Nigeria: An Introduction... |url=https://www.remitbee.com/blog/top-10-most-spoken-languages-in-nigeria-an-introduction-to-all-languages-in-nigeria |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Remitbee |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nigeria: most common languages spoken at home 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1268798/main-languages-spoken-at-home-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Statista |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-15 |title=371 Languages in Nigeria, and the states/people that speak them |url=https://infoguidenigeria.com/languages-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=InfoGuideNigeria.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=folukeifejola |date=2016-11-23 |title=The 512 Languages Spoken in Nigeria |url=https://folukeafrica.com/the-512-languages-spoken-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Foluke's African Skies |language=en-US}}{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Ethnicity in Nigeria (2018){{Cite web|work=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/|access-date=2020-06-21 |title=Africa: Nigeria}}
|label1 = Hausa
|value1 = 30
|color1 = Green
|label2 = Yoruba
|value2 = 15.5
|color2 = Red
|label3 = Igbo
|value3 = 15.2
|color3 = Blue
|label4 = Ibibio
|value4 = 1.8
|color4 = Goldenrod
|label5 = Fulani
|value5 = 1
|color5 = Purple
|label6 = Urhobo
|value6 = 0.8
|color6 = Pink
|label7 = Tiv
|value7 = 2.4
|color7 = Maroon
|label8 = Kanuri
|value8 = 2.4
|color8 = Black
|label9 = Ijaw
|value9 = 1.8
|color9 = Cyan
|label10=Others
|value10=24.9
|color10=White
}}
List of ethnic groups
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
The following is a non-exhaustive list of ethnic groups in Nigeria.
class="wikitable sortable" |
Name of Ethnic Group{{Cite web |date=2017-05-10 |title=Full list of all 371 tribes in Nigeria, states where they originate |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/full-list-of-all-371-tribes-in-nigeria-states-where-they-originate/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}
!State |
---|
Abayon |
Abua (Odual) |
Achipa (Achipawa) |
Adara (Kadara) |
Affade |
Afizere |
Afo (Eloyi) |
Agbo |
Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) |
Akweya-Yachi |
Alago (Arago) |
Amo |
Anaguta |
Anang |
Andoni |
Ankwei |
Anyima |
Atyap (Kataf/Katab, Attakar, Kagoro, Kafanchan, Marwa/Manchok) |
Auyoka (Sub-Hausa) |
Awori |
Ayu |
Bura-Pabir |
Bachama |
Bachere |
Bada |
Bade |
Bahumono |
Bakulung |
Bali |
Bambora (Bambarawa) |
Bambuko |
Bajju (Kaje, Kajji) |
Banda (Bandawa) |
Banka (Bankalawa) |
Banso (Panso) |
Bara (Barawa) |
Barke |
Baruba (Batonu) |
Bashiri (Bashirawa) |
Bassa |
Batta |
Baushi |
Baya |
Bekwarra |
Bele (Buli, Belewa) |
Berom (Birom) |
Betso (Bete) |
Bette |
Bille |
Bille |
Bina (Binawa) |
Bini (Edo) |
Bobua |
Boki (Nki) |
Bokkos |
Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) |
Bole (Bolewa) |
Botlere |
Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) |
Bomboro |
Buduma |
Buji |
Buli |
Bunu |
Bura-Pabir |
Burak |
Burma (Burmawa) |
Buru |
Buta (Butawa) |
Bwall |
Bwatiye |
Bwazza |
Challa |
Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) |
Chamba |
Chamo |
Chibok (Kibaku people) |
Chinine |
Chip |
Chokobo |
Chukkol |
Daba |
Dadiya |
Daka |
Dakarkari |
Danda (Dandawa) |
Dangsa |
Daza (Dere, Derewa) |
Deno (Denawa) |
Dghwede |
Diba |
Doemak (Dumuk) |
Ouguri |
Duka (Dukawa) |
Dundudun (Dunka) |
Duma (Dumawa) |
Ebana (Ebani) |
Ebira |
Ebu |
Efik |
Egede (Igede)
|Benue State, Cross River State |
Eggon |
Egun (Gu) |
Ejagham |
Ekajuk |
Eket |
Ekoi |
Engenni (Ngene) |
Epie |
Esan (Ishan) |
Esit Ekid |
Etolu (Etilo) |
Etsako |
Etung |
Etuno |
Palli |
Fulani (Fulbe)
|Adamawa State, Bauchi State, Borno State, Gombe State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Kwara State, Niger State, Plateau State, Sokoto State, Taraba State, Yobe State, Zamfara State |
Fyam (Fyem) |
Fyer (Fer) |
Ga'anda |
Gade people |
Galambi |
Gamergu-Mulgwa |
Ganawuri |
Gavako |
Gbedde |
Gengle |
Geji |
Gera (Gere, Gerawa) |
Geruma (Gerumawa) |
Gingwak |
Gira |
Gizigz |
Goemai |
Gokana (Kana) |
Gombi |
Gornun (Gmun) |
Gonia |
Gubi (Gubawa) |
Gude |
Gudu |
Gure |
Gurmana |
Gururntum |
Gusu |
Gwa (Gurawa) |
Gwamba |
Gwandara
|Kaduna State, Niger State, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State |
Gwari (Gbagyi)
|Kaduna State, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nasarawa State, Niger State, |
Gwong (Kagoma) |
Gwom |
Gwoza (Waha) |
Gyem |
Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba) |
Hausa
|Bauchi State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Sokoto State, Taraba State, Gombe State, Yobe State, Zamfara State |
Holma |
Hona |
Ibani |
Ibeno |
Ibibio |
Ichen |
Idoma
|Benue State, Cross River State, Kogi State, Nassarawa State |
Igala |
Igbira |
Igbo
|Abia State, Anambra State, Delta State, Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Imo State, Rivers State |
Igede |
Ijumu |
Ika |
Ikom |
Irigwe |
Iman |
Isoko |
Itsekiri (Isekiri) |
Itu |
Itu Mbon Uso |
Iyala (Iyalla) |
Izon (Ijaw) |
Jahuna (Jahunawa) |
Jaku |
Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) |
Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) |
Jero |
Jibu |
Jidda-Abu |
Jimbin (Jimbinawa) |
Jipal |
Jirai |
Joinkrama |
Jonjo (Jenjo) |
Jukun |
Kaba (Kabawa) |
Kalabari |
Kajuru (Kajurawa) |
Kaka |
Kamaku (Karnukawa) |
Kambari |
Kambu |
Kamwe |
Kanakuru (Dera) |
Kanembu |
Kanikon |
Kantana |
Kanuri
|Adamawa State, Borno State, Taraba State, Yobe State, Nasarawa state. |
Karai-karai (Karekare) |
Karimjo |
Kariya |
Ke |
Kenern (Koenoem) |
Kenton |
Kiballo (Kiwollo) |
Kilba |
Kirfi (Kirfawa) |
Kodei |
Kona |
Kono |
Koro (Kwaro) |
Kubi (Kubawa) |
Kudachano (Kudawa) |
Kugama |
Kugbo |
Kulere (Kaler) |
Kunini |
Kurama (Akurmi) |
Kurdul |
Kushi |
Kuteb |
Kutin |
Kwalla |
Kwale |
Kwami (Kwom) |
Kwanchi |
Kadung |
Kwaro |
Kwato |
Kyenga (Kengawa) |
Laaru (Larawa) |
Lakka |
Lala |
Lama |
Lamja |
Lau |
Limono |
Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) |
Longuda (Lunguda) |
Mabo |
Mada |
Mama |
Mambilla |
Mandara (Wandala) |
Manga (Mangawa) |
Margi (Marghi) |
Mafa |
Mbembe |
Mbol |
Mbube |
Mbula |
Mbum |
Memyang (Meryan) |
Milighili (Mighili) |
Miya (Miyawa) |
Mobber |
Montol |
Moruwa (Moro'a, Morwa) |
Muchaila |
Mumuye |
Mundang |
Munga (Lelau) |
Munga (Mupang) |
Mupun |
Mushere |
Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) |
Ndoro |
Ngas (Angas) |
Ngizim |
Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) |
Nyiffon |
Ningi (Ningawa) |
Ninzam (Ninzo) |
Njayi |
Nkim |
Nkum |
Nokere (Nakere) |
Nunku |
Nupe |
Nyam |
Nyandang |
Obolo |
Ododop |
Ogba |
Ogori |
Okobo (Okkobor) |
Okirika |
Okpamheri |
Olukumi |
Oron |
Ososo |
Owan |
Owe |
Oworo |
Pa'a (Pa'awa Afawa) |
Pai |
Panyam |
Pero |
Pire |
Pkanzom |
Poll |
Polchi Habe |
Pongo (Pongu) |
Potopo |
Pyapun (Piapung) |
Qua |
Rebina (Rebinawa) |
Reshe |
Rindire (Rendre) |
Rishuwa |
Ron |
Rubu |
Rukuba |
Rumada |
Rumaya |
Sakbe |
Sanga |
Sate |
Saya (Sayawa Za'ar) |
Segidi (Sigidawa) |
Shanga (Shangawa) |
Shangawa (ShanKadunagau) |
Shan-Shan |
Shira (Shira ) |
Shomo |
Shuwa (Baggara Arabs) |
Sikdi |
Siri (Sirawa) |
Srubu (Surubu) |
Sukur |
Sura |
Tangale |
Tarok (Yergam) |
Teme |
Tera (Terawa) |
Teshena (Teshenawa) |
Tigon |
Tikar |
Tiv
|Benue State, FCT, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Plateau State, Taraba State |
Tula |
Tur |
Ubbo |
Udekeama |
Ufia |
Ukelle |
Uncinda |
Uneme (Ineme) |
Ura (Ula) |
Urhobo |
Utonkong |
Uwanno (Weppa-Wanno) |
Uyanga |
Vemgo |
Verre |
Vommi |
Wagga |
Waja |
Waka |
Warja (Warja) |
Warji |
Wurbo |
Wurkun |
Yache |
Yagba |
Yakurr (Yako) |
Yalla |
Yandang |
Yoruba
|Ekiti State, Kogi State, Kwara State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Osun State, Oyo State |
Yott |
Yumu |
Yungur |
Yuom |
Zabara |
Zaranda |
Zarma (Zarmawa) |
Zayam (Zeam) |
Zul (Zulawa) |