Geopolitical zones in Nigeria and their states: detailed 2026 update
Nigeria is divided into six regions, commonly referred to as geopolitical zones. These administrative regions were created during General Sani Abacha's regime. The six geopolitical zones in Nigeria form the basis of the distribution of economic, educational, and political resources among Nigerians. Sati Umaru Fwatshak, a Professor of History at the University of Jos, provides insights into the impact of having the zones and why they are important.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- What are the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria?
- Nigeria's geopolitical zones and their influence on political representation
- How many states are in Nigeria?
- What is the meaning of a geopolitical zone?
- How many geopolitical zones are there in Nigeria?
- Which geopolitical zone has the highest number of states?
- Which geopolitical zone has the fewest number of states?
- What is the biggest geopolitical zone in Nigeria?
- What is the smallest geopolitical zone?
- Which zone has the highest population?
- What are the three regions of Nigeria?
- What are the 4 regions in Nigeria?
Key takeaways
- Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones. They include North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South.
- The North-West is one of the country's most populous areas.
- The region has a population of almost 62 million people, accounting for approximately 23% of the country's entire population.
- The South-East geopolitical zone is the smallest. Geographically, it covers the smallest land area compared to the other five zones in the country.
What are the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria?
The economic data on this list was sourced from The Cable Index report in 2022, whereas the population data is based on projected data from StatiSense as of 2024. There are six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. These zones were created for administrative purposes and to foster equitable development nationwide.
Each geopolitical zone has several states and unique characteristics, as well as cultural diversity. So, what are the six geopolitical zones and their states?
Zone | Population (millions) | GDP (trillions of Naira) |
North-East | 32 | 12.48 |
North-West | 62 | 20.37 |
North-Central | 33 | 17.28 |
South-East | 29 | 20.04 |
South-South | 32 | 34.61 |
South-West | 44 | 59.60 |
1. North-East
- Population: 32 million
- GDP: N12.48trn
The North-East region is among the largest geopolitical zones in Nigeria in terms of physical size and population. The region covers nearly a third of the entire Nigerian landmass. This zone has two major ecological regions: the tropical savanna in the west and the semi-desert ecological region in the east.
The region's most populous cities are Bauchi and Maiduguri. Here is a look at the North East states in Nigeria.
- Adamawa
- Bauchi
- Borno
- Gombe
- Taraba
- Yobe
2. North-West
- Population: 62 million
- GDP: N20.37trn
The North-West region, as its name suggests, is located in northwest Nigeria. It is among Nigeria's largest geographical zones and is primarily comprised of the savanna ecological region. Much of the region is the indigenous homeland of the Hausa people, who make up the largest ethnic group in northwest Nigeria.
Source: UGC
Economy-wise, the North-West zone is home to Kano City, which is a major contributor to Nigeria's economy. Most of the region's rural areas lag in terms of resource allocation, literacy levels, and security. North West states in Nigeria include:
- Zamfara
- Sokoto
- Kebbi
- Katsina
- Kano
- Kaduna
- Jigawa
3. North-Central (Middle Belt)
- Population: 33 million
- GDP: N17.28trn
The Middle Belt Zone is home to Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory. This zone stretches across the country's width, from its border with Benin to where it borders Cameroon. The region's primary ecological zone is the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, with a small western portion falling in the savanna ecoregion.
Abuja, the country's capital, is the largest city in this zone. The populous cities of Jos and Ilorin are also part of the Middle Belt. Here are the North Central states in Nigeria.
- Plateau
- Niger
- Nasarawa
- Kwara
- Kogi
- Federal Capital Territory
- Benue
4. South-East
- Population: 29 million
- GDP: N20.04trn
The South-East region is bounded by the Cross River to the east, the flat North Central to the north, the riverine Niger Delta to the south, and the river Niger to the west. The main ecological regions include the forest-savanna mosaic in the north and the tropical forest to the south.
Culturally, the South-East region falls within the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people, often known as Igboland. The Igbo people comprise the largest ethnic group in South East Nigeria, accounting for close to 90% of the region's population.
While this region is the smallest in terms of landmass, it is among the largest contributors to the country's economy. The region has vast natural gas and oil reserves and a remarkably industrialised economy.
Source: UGC
The two most populated cities in this region are Enugu and Aba; other significant ones include Owerri, Umuahia, Onitsha, and Nnewi. The South-East states in Nigeria include:
- Imo
- Enugu
- Ebonyi
- Anambra
- Abia
5. South-South (Niger Delta)
- Population: 32 million
- GDP: N34.61trn
The Niger Delta region stretches across the Atlantic seaboard from the Bight of Bonny coast in the east to the Bight of Benin coast in the west. Geographically, this region occupies a mere 5% of the country's landmass.
The Niger Delta is home to some of Nigeria's largest oil and natural gas deposits. The Greater Port Harcourt is the region's largest metropolitan area, with other significant ones being Ikom, Warri, Sapele, Ikot, and Ughelli. Here are the states in this region.
- Rivers
- Edo
- Delta
- Cross River
- Bayelsa
- Akwa Ibom
6. South-West
- Population: 44 million
- GDP: N59.60trn
The South-West region stretches along the Atlantic seaboard from the Niger Delta Zone in the east to the border with the Benin Republic in the west. The main ecological regions in this zone include the mangrove forests in the east and the south, and the forest savanna in the northwest.
Culturally, much of the South-West region falls in the indigenous Yorubaland. The Yoruba people are the largest ethnic group in the country's southwest. The region is home to the incredibly populous cities of Ibadan and Lagos, making it one of the busiest zones in terms of economic activity.
The South-West Zone is the second most populous of all Nigeria's geopolitical zones. The Lagos Metropolitan Area, found in this zone, is the world's eighth-largest metropolitan area, with about 21 million people. Here are the states in this region.
- Ekiti
- Lagos
- Ogun
- Ondo
- Osun
- Oyo
Nigeria's geopolitical zones and their influence on political representation
Sati Umaru Fwatshak, a Professor of History at the University of Jos., shares insightful perspectives on the evolution of Nigeria's geopolitical zones and their role in shaping governance structures over the years. He said:
There's been a transition in the last few years regarding political representation. The geopolitical arrangement came with the Abacha constitution that never saw the light of day.
Abacha said let's have six geopolitical zones named after the North and South and their divisions. So these geopolitical zones represent some fairly cultural, homogeneous groups, not exactly, but some idea that something is binding members of the same geopolitical zone together.
So when Abacha died and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came to power, it seemed to have implemented this aspect of the Abacha constitution in several respects. Principally, the PDP insisted through its zoning system that each geopolitical zone must have a key political office in Nigeria's governance. So you had President Obasanjo (from the Southwest), and he picked Atiku from the North- East as his vice president; the Senate President went to the Southeast, the Deputy Senate President came to the North-Central, the Speaker of the House of Representatives went to the Southwest, and the deputy speaker to the South-South or so on.
The PDP realized that this kind of thing was very good for the country's stabilization, but when the All Progressive Congress (APC), led by Buhari, first came to power, they tried to destroy that tradition completely. So you had the president from the Northwest, the vice president from the Southwest, and the president of the Senate, initially Bukola Saraki from the North-Central (but you know what happened. This was not the original plan, which did not put North-Central in the calculation). The Southeast had no key position. All Service Chiefs at a point were from the North.
But when they returned in 2019, everything went haywire, and the geopolitical arrangement regarding power-sharing by geopolitical zones in the country collapsed. And, of course, for some of us, the thing is that where ethnic majorities control the country, they control the press, they control the outcome of elections, having the voting numbers, so they do whatever they want. And Buhari got away with it.
Read also
Full text of Peter Obi's speech after emerging NDC presidential candidate for 2027 election
In APC's second coming, led by Tinubu, I think they are trying to somehow correct that. And so you have some fair return to the geopolitical arrangement, with each geopolitical zone having at least one key political office. I hope that this is sustained and sustainable because it's about identity, it's about inclusion, it's about taking people along, it's about people feeling that they're also important, regardless of the number of votes they have, but they are part of the Nigerian society, and so they have to be represented.
So when key appointments respect that distribution, it's very good for the country. Unfortunately, when people hold such positions, they don't seem to think they are representing these geopolitical zones; they represent themselves; that's unfortunate. So I hope that one day, people will realize that they are presenting specific political constituencies to bring inclusion and not represent themselves and escape poverty as individuals.
How many states are in Nigeria?
Nigeria comprises 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. These states are the primary administrative units of the country, each with its own government and governance structure. Below is a map of Nigeria showing the states.
Source: UGC
What is the meaning of a geopolitical zone?
This is a federally recognised region in Nigeria, consisting of multiple states. Each zone represents a cluster of states with similarities in culture, demographics, and historical heritage.
How many geopolitical zones are there in Nigeria?
Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones. They include North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South.
Which geopolitical zone has the highest number of states?
The regions of North-West and North-Central have the greatest number of states, with each region comprising seven states.
Which geopolitical zone has the fewest number of states?
The South-East zone comprises the fewest states, totalling five. These states are Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Abia.
What is the biggest geopolitical zone in Nigeria?
The North-East is the nation's largest geopolitical zone, encompassing approximately one-third of Nigeria's total land area.
What is the smallest geopolitical zone?
The South-East geopolitical zone is the smallest. Geographically, it covers the smallest land area compared to the other five zones in the country.
Which zone has the highest population?
The North-West is Nigeria's most populous zone. The region was projected to have a population of almost 62 million people as of 2024, accounting for approximately 23% of the country's entire population.
What are the three regions of Nigeria?
Historically, Nigeria was structured into three major administrative and political regions under the 1954 Constitution: the Northern Region, the Western Region, and the Eastern Region. This tripartite division was a defining feature of the country from the colonial era until the mid-1960s.
What are the 4 regions in Nigeria?
Source: UGC
A fourth region, the Mid-Western region, was added in 1963 and lasted till 1967, when the 4-region system was abolished in favour of a state-based system.
The six geopolitical zones in Nigeria are important administrative units. These zones serve an essential purpose in ensuring the equitable distribution of resources among the country's populace. They vary in size, population, economic activity, and ecoregions.
Legit.ng recently published an article about the Nigerian Civil Defence, one of the numerous paramilitary, military, and police agencies in Nigeria. These bodies serve various functions, all related to safety, law enforcement and order in one way or another.
Commonly abbreviated as NSCDC, this federal security agency was created to help mitigate any threats and forms of attack against Nigeria and its populace. What is the civil defence salary structure today?
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
