📊 Live Database • NBS 2006 Census • NPC 2026 Projection
Nigeria Population by State 2026
All 37 states and FCT ranked from most to least populated. Based on the 2006 NBS census and NPC 2026 projections. Nigeria's estimated total population is 259.63 million, making it the most populous country in Africa.
Top 10 Most Populated States in Nigeria 2026
Live database — updates when admin edits any state| Rank | State | Population 2026 | Zone | % of Nigeria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Lagos State |
17,591,622
17.59 million
|
SW | 6.8% |
|
2
|
Kano State |
17,280,113
17.28 million
|
NW | 6.7% |
|
3
|
Kaduna State |
11,258,057
11.26 million
|
NW | 4.3% |
|
4
|
Katsina State |
11,088,641
11.09 million
|
NW | 4.3% |
|
5
|
Oyo State |
9,904,732
9.90 million
|
SW | 3.8% |
|
6
|
Rivers State |
9,735,902
9.74 million
|
SS | 3.7% |
|
7
|
Bauchi State |
9,127,009
9.13 million
|
NE | 3.5% |
|
8
|
Jigawa State |
8,652,893
8.65 million
|
NW | 3.3% |
|
9
|
Borno State |
7,794,116
7.79 million
|
NE | 3% |
|
10
|
Benue State |
7,620,424
7.62 million
|
NC | 2.9% |
Population of All States in Nigeria 2026
Source: NBS 2006 Census + NPC Projections • Click columns to sort| # | State | Population 2026 | Population 2006 | Growth Rate | Density /km² | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
●
Lagos State
Ikeja • 6.8% of Nigeria
|
17,591,622
|
9,013,534
NBS Census
|
+3.4%/yr | 4,917 | SW |
| 2 |
●
Kano State
Kano • 6.7% of Nigeria
|
17,280,113
|
9,383,682
NBS Census
|
+3.1%/yr | 858 | NW |
| 3 |
●
Kaduna State
Kaduna • 4.3% of Nigeria
|
11,258,057
|
6,113,503
NBS Census
|
+3.1%/yr | 244 | NW |
| 4 |
●
Katsina State
Katsina • 4.3% of Nigeria
|
11,088,641
|
5,792,578
NBS Census
|
+3.3%/yr | 458 | NW |
| 5 |
●
Oyo State
Ibadan • 3.8% of Nigeria
|
9,904,732
|
5,591,589
NBS Census
|
+2.9%/yr | 348 | SW |
| 6 |
●
Rivers State
Port Harcourt • 3.7% of Nigeria
|
9,735,902
|
5,185,400
NBS Census
|
+3.2%/yr | 878 | SS |
| 7 |
●
Bauchi State
Bauchi • 3.5% of Nigeria
|
9,127,009
|
4,676,465
NBS Census
|
+3.4%/yr | 199 | NE |
| 8 |
●
Jigawa State
Dutse • 3.3% of Nigeria
|
8,652,893
|
4,348,649
NBS Census
|
+3.5%/yr | 373 | NW |
| 9 |
●
Borno State
Maiduguri • 3% of Nigeria
|
7,794,116
|
4,151,193
NBS Census
|
+3.2%/yr | 109 | NE |
| 10 |
●
Benue State
Makurdi • 2.9% of Nigeria
|
7,620,424
|
4,219,244
NBS Census
|
+3.0%/yr | 246 | NC |
| 11 |
●
Anambra State
Awka • 2.9% of Nigeria
|
7,407,895
|
4,182,032
NBS Census
|
+2.9%/yr | 1,515 | SE |
| 12 |
●
Delta State
Asaba • 2.9% of Nigeria
|
7,402,150
|
4,098,391
NBS Census
|
+3.0%/yr | 418 | SS |
| 13 |
●
Sokoto State
Sokoto • 2.8% of Nigeria
|
7,356,247
|
3,696,999
NBS Census
|
+3.5%/yr | 283 | NW |
| 14 |
●
Niger State
Minna • 2.8% of Nigeria
|
7,274,410
|
3,950,249
NBS Census
|
+3.1%/yr | 95 | NC |
| 15 |
●
Ogun State
Abeokuta • 2.7% of Nigeria
|
7,136,639
|
3,728,098
NBS Census
|
+3.3%/yr | 425 | SW |
| 16 |
●
Akwa Ibom State
Uyo • 2.7% of Nigeria
|
7,080,332
|
3,920,208
NBS Census
|
+3.0%/yr | 999 | SS |
| 17 |
●
Imo State
Owerri • 2.6% of Nigeria
|
6,835,903
|
3,934,899
NBS Census
|
+2.8%/yr | 1,292 | SE |
| 18 |
●
Zamfara State
Gusau • 2.4% of Nigeria
|
6,240,272
|
3,259,846
NBS Census
|
+3.3%/yr | 156 | NW |
| 19 |
●
Kebbi State
Birnin Kebbi • 2.3% of Nigeria
|
6,080,720
|
3,238,628
NBS Census
|
+3.2%/yr | 164 | NW |
| 20 |
●
Ondo State
Akure • 2.3% of Nigeria
|
5,977,919
|
3,441,024
NBS Census
|
+2.8%/yr | 385 | SW |
| 21 |
●
Adamawa State
Yola • 2.3% of Nigeria
|
5,854,058
|
3,178,950
NBS Census
|
+3.1%/yr | 158 | NE |
| 22 |
●
Osun State
Osogbo • 2.2% of Nigeria
|
5,832,888
|
3,423,535
NBS Census
|
+2.7%/yr | 630 | SW |
| 23 |
●
Kogi State
Lokoja • 2.2% of Nigeria
|
5,807,390
|
3,278,487
NBS Census
|
+2.9%/yr | 194 | NC |
| 24 |
●
Plateau State
Jos • 2.2% of Nigeria
|
5,741,107
|
3,178,712
NBS Census
|
+3.0%/yr | 185 | NC |
| 25 |
●
Edo State
Benin City • 2.2% of Nigeria
|
5,700,833
|
3,218,332
NBS Census
|
+2.9%/yr | 320 | SS |
| 26 |
●
Enugu State
Enugu • 2.2% of Nigeria
|
5,658,741
|
3,257,298
NBS Census
|
+2.8%/yr | 790 | SE |
| 27 |
●
Cross River State
Calabar • 1.9% of Nigeria
|
5,018,856
|
2,888,966
NBS Census
|
+2.8%/yr | 249 | SS |
| 28 |
●
Abia State
Umuahia • 1.9% of Nigeria
|
4,923,364
|
2,833,999
NBS Census
|
+2.8%/yr | 779 | SE |
| 29 |
●
Gombe State
Gombe • 1.7% of Nigeria
|
4,505,994
|
2,353,879
NBS Census
|
+3.3%/yr | 240 | NE |
| 30 |
●
Yobe State
Damaturu • 1.7% of Nigeria
|
4,358,928
|
2,321,591
NBS Census
|
+3.2%/yr | 95 | NE |
| 31 |
●
FCT Abuja State
Abuja • 1.7% of Nigeria
|
4,339,621
|
1,405,201
NBS Census
|
+5.8%/yr | 593 | NC |
| 32 |
●
Taraba State
Jalingo • 1.6% of Nigeria
|
4,225,890
|
2,294,800
NBS Census
|
+3.1%/yr | 77 | NE |
| 33 |
●
Kwara State
Ilorin • 1.6% of Nigeria
|
4,200,059
|
2,371,089
NBS Census
|
+2.9%/yr | 117 | NC |
| 34 |
●
Ekiti State
Ado-Ekiti • 1.5% of Nigeria
|
3,983,750
|
2,384,212
NBS Census
|
+2.6%/yr | 676 | SW |
| 35 |
●
Ebonyi State
Abakaliki • 1.5% of Nigeria
|
3,925,585
|
2,173,501
NBS Census
|
+3.0%/yr | 709 | SE |
| 36 |
●
Nasarawa State
Lafia • 1.4% of Nigeria
|
3,566,838
|
1,863,275
NBS Census
|
+3.3%/yr | 131 | NC |
| 37 |
●
Bayelsa State
Yenagoa • 1.2% of Nigeria
|
3,136,745
|
1,703,358
NBS Census
|
+3.1%/yr | 291 | SS |
| 🇩🍙 Nigeria Total | 259,626,643 | 140,055,396 | +85.4% since 2006 | NBS 2006 Census + NPC Projections | ||
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world. With an estimated 259.63 million people in 2026, Nigeria is home to approximately one in six Africans. The country's population has more than doubled since 1991, driven by a fertility rate of approximately 5.3 children per woman and improving child survival rates.
The last official census was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2006, recording 140,055,396 people. The National Population Commission (NPC) produces annual projections using this as the baseline.
Most Populated States
Lagos State is Nigeria's most populous with 17,591,622 people in 2026 — 6.8% of the national total. Kano State follows closely with 17,280,113 people.
Least Populated State
Bayelsa State is Nigeria's least populated with 3,136,745 people — 1.2% of Nigeria's population.
Lagos State is the most populated in 2026 with 17,591,622 people. Kano State is second with 17,280,113.
Bayelsa State is the least populated with 3,136,745 people in 2026.
Nigeria's estimated population in 2026 is approximately 259,626,643 (259.63 million). The 2006 NBS census recorded 140,055,396.
Lagos State has the highest density at 4,917 people per km².
The top 10 most populated states in Nigeria in 2026 are: 1. Lagos (17,591,622), 2. Kano (17,280,113), 3. Kaduna (11,258,057), 4. Katsina (11,088,641), 5. Oyo (9,904,732), 6. Rivers (9,735,902), 7. Bauchi (9,127,009), 8. Jigawa (8,652,893), 9. Borno (7,794,116), 10. Benue (7,620,424).
The last official census was in 2006, recording 140,055,396 people. All figures beyond 2006 are NPC projections.
Click the 'Print / PDF' button on this page for a clean, printer-friendly version of all 37 states. Data sourced from NBS 2006 census + NPC 2026 projections.