Major & Minor Ethnic Groups in Nigeria: Full List

It is no news that Nigeria is a country with numerous ethnic groups. Some put it at 250 tribes, some at 374, others even put it at 470 tribes.

ethnic-groups-nigerian-queries

Whichever is the case, Nigeria is homogeneous ethnically and this bring about the richness and diversity in culture that makes up the country and in turn, the cause of many crisis within the country.

Out of this over 300 ethnic groups, some tribes are classified as major ethnic groups while some are seen as minorities.

This article will list out all the ethnic groups found in the country and group them into these two broad categories.

Major Ethic Groups In Nigeria

Conventionally, the major tribes we have in Nigeria are Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. However, I will want to expand this list to 12 so we wouldn’t have the discrepancy of having large minorities and fewer minorities.

Our expanded list of majority tribes includes; Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Ijaw (Izon), Edo, Nupe, Urhobo and Igala

Minority Ethnic Groups In Nigeria

This contain the list of all the minority tribes in Nigeria. you will also see the ones above. This is just to show the area they can be found (state).

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) Piateau

13 Amo Plateau

14 Anaguta Plateau

15 Anang Akwa lbom

16 Andoni [Akwa lbom, 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, Bomo, 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

83 Daba Adamawa

84 Dadiya Bauchi

85 Daka Adamawa

86 Dakarkari Niger, Kebbi

87 Danda (Dandawa) Kebbi

88 Dangsa Taraba

89 Daza (Dere, Derewa) Bauchi

90 Degema Rivers

91 Deno (Denawa) Bauchi

92 Dghwede Bomo

93 Diba Taraba

94 Doemak (Dumuk) Plateau

95 Ouguri Bauchi

96 Duka (Dukawa) Kebbi

97 Duma (Dumawa) Bauchi

98 Ebana (Ebani) Rivers

99 Ebirra (lgbirra) [Edo, Kogi, Ondo ]

100 Ebu Edo, Kogi

101 Efik Cross River

102 Egbema Rivers

103 Egede (lgedde) Benue

104 Eggon Plateau

105 Egun (Gu) [Lagos,Ogun ]

106 Ejagham Cross River

107 Ekajuk Cross River

108 Eket Akwa Ibom

109 Ekoi Cross River

110 Engenni (Ngene) Rivers

111 Epie Rivers

112 Esan (Ishan) Edo

113 Etche Rivers

114 Etolu (Etilo) Benue

115 Etsako Edo

116 Etung Cross River

117 Etuno Edo

118 Palli Adamawa

119 Fulani (Pulbe) [Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi , Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc. ]

120 Fyam (Fyem) Plateau

121 Fyer(Fer) Plateau

122 Ga’anda Adamawa

123 Gade Niger

124 Galambi Bauchi

125 Gamergu-Mulgwa Bomo

126 Qanawuri Plateau

127 Gavako Borno

128 Gbedde Kogi

129 Gengle Taraba

130 Geji Bauchi

131 Gera (Gere, Gerawa) Bauchi

132 Geruma (Gerumawa) Plateau

133 Geruma (Gerumawa) Bauchi

134 Gingwak Bauchi

135 Gira Adamawa

136 Gizigz Adamawa

137 Goernai Plateau

138 Gokana (Kana) Rivers

139 Gombi Adamawa

140 Gornun (Gmun) Taraba

141 Gonia Taraba

142 Gubi (Gubawa) Bauchi

143 Gude Adamawa

144 Gudu Adamawa

145 Gure Kaduna

146 Gurmana Niger

147 Gururntum Bauchi

148 Gusu Plateau

149 Gwa (Gurawa) Adamawa

150 Gwamba Adamawa

151 Gwandara Kaduna, Niger, Plateau

152 Gwari (Gbari) Kaduna, Niger, Plateau

153 Gwom Taraba

154 Gwoza (Waha) Bomo

155 Gyem Bauchi

156 Hausa [Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, etc]

157 Higi (Hig) Borno, Adamawa

158 Holma Adamawa

159 Hona Adamawa

160 Ibeno Akwa lbom

161 Ibibio Akwa lbom

162 Ichen Adamawa

163 Idoma Benue, Taraba

164 Igalla Kogi

165 lgbo [Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi,Enugu, Imo, Rivers ]..Kogi,Akwa Ibom,Edo,Cross River, Bayelsa

166 ljumu Kogi

167 Ikorn Cross River

168 Irigwe Plateau

169 Isoko Delta

170 lsekiri (Itsekiri) Delta

171 lyala (lyalla) Cross River

172 lzondjo) Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers

173 Jaba Kaduna

174 Jahuna (Jahunawa) Taraba

175 Jaku Bauchi

176 Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) Bauchi

177 Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) Bauchi, Plateau

178 Jero Taraba

179 Jibu Adamawa

180 Jidda-Abu Plateau

181 Jimbin (Jimbinawa) Bauchi

182 Jirai Adamawa

183 Jonjo (Jenjo) Taraba

184 Jukun Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau

185 Kaba(Kabawa) Taraba

186 Kadara Taraba

187 Kafanchan Kaduna

188 Kagoro Kaduna

189 Kaje (Kache) Kaduna

190 Kajuru (Kajurawa) Kaduna

191 Kaka Adamawa

192 Kamaku (Karnukawa) Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger

193 Kambari Kebbi, Niger

194 Kambu Adamawa

195 Kamo Bauchi

196 Kanakuru (Dera) Adamawa, Borno

197 Kanembu Bomo

198 Kanikon Kaduna

199 Kantana Plateau

200 Kanufi[ Kaduna, Adamawa, Bomo, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe ]

201 Karekare (Karaikarai) Bauchi, Yobe

202 Karimjo Taraba

203 Kariya Bauchi

204 Katab (Kataf) Kaduna

205 Kenern (Koenoem) Plateau

206 Kenton Taraba

207 Kiballo (Kiwollo) Kaduna

208 Kilba Adamawa

209 Kirfi (Kirfawa) Bauchi

210 Koma Taraba

211 Kona Taraba

212 Koro (Kwaro) Kaduna, Niger

213 Kubi (Kubawa) Bauchi

214 Kudachano (Kudawa) Bauchi

215 Kugama Taraba

216 Kulere (Kaler) Plateau

217 Kunini Taraba

218 Kurama Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau

219 Kurdul Adamawa

220 Kushi Bauchi

221 Kuteb Taraba

222 Kutin Taraba

223 Kwalla Plateau

224 Kwami (Kwom) Bauchi

225 Kwanchi Taraba

226 Kwanka (Kwankwa) Bauchi, Plateau

227 Kwaro Plateau

228 Kwato Plateau

229 Kyenga (Kengawa) Sokoto

230 Laaru (Larawa) Niger

231 Lakka Adamawa

232 Lala Adamawa

233 Lama Taraba

234 Lamja Taraba

235 Lau Taraba

236 Ubbo Adamawa

237 Limono Bauchi, Plateau

238 Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) Niger

239 Longuda (Lunguda) Adamawa, Bauchi

240 Mabo Plateau

241 Mada Kaduna, Plateau

242 Mama Plateau

243 Mambilla Adamawa

244 Manchok Kaduna

245 Mandara (Wandala) Bomo

246 Manga (Mangawa) Yobe

247 Margi (Marghi) Adamawa, Bomo

248 Matakarn Adamawa

249 Mbembe Cross River, Enugu

250 Mbol Adamawa

251 Mbube Cross River

252 Mbula Adamawa

253 Mbum Taraba

254 Memyang (Meryan) Plateau

255 Miango Plateau

256 Miligili (Migili) Plateau

257 Miya (Miyawa) Bauchi

258 Mobber Bomo

259 Montol Plateau

260 Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) Kaduna

261 Muchaila Adamawa

262 Mumuye Taraba

263 Mundang Adamawa

264 Munga (Mupang) Plateau

265 Mushere Plateau

266 Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) Plateau

267 Ndoro Taraba

268 Ngamo Bauchi, Yobe

269 Ngizim Yobe

270 Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe- Ndhang) Adamawa, Borno

271 Ningi (Ningawa) Bauchi

272 Ninzam (Ninzo) Kaduna, Plateau

273 Njayi Adamawa

274 Nkim Cross River

275 Nkum Cross River

276 Nokere (Nakere) Plateau

277 Nunku Kaduna, Plateau

278 Nupe Niger

279 Nyandang Taraba

280 Ododop Cross River

281 Ogori Kwara

282 Okobo (Okkobor) Akwa lbom

283 Okpamheri Edo

284 Olulumo Cross River

285 Oron Akwa lbom

286 Owan Edo

287 Owe Kwara

288 Oworo Kwara

289 Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) Bauchi

290 Pai Plateau

291 Panyam Taraba

292 Pero Bauchi

293 Pire Adamawa

294 Pkanzom Taraba

295 Poll Taraba

296 Polchi Habe Bauchi

297 Pongo (Pongu) Niger

298 Potopo Taraba

299 Pyapun (Piapung) Plateau

300 Qua Cross River

301 Rebina (Rebinawa) Bauchi

302 Reshe Kebbi, Niger

303 Rindire (Rendre) Plateau

304 Rishuwa Kaduna

305 Ron Piateau

306 Rubu Niger

307 Rukuba Plateau

308 Rumada Kaduna

309 Rumaya Kaduna

310 Sakbe Taraba

311 Sanga Bauchi

312 Sate Taraba

313 Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) Bauchi

314 Segidi (Sigidawa) Bauchi

315 Shanga (Shangawa) Sokoto

316 Shangawa (Shangau) Plateau

317 Shan-Shan Plateau

318 Shira (Shirawa) Kano

319 Shomo Taraba

320 Shuwa Adamawa, Borno

321 Sikdi Plateau

322 Siri (Sirawa) Bauchi

323 Srubu (Surubu) Kaduna

324 Sukur Adamawa

325 Sura Plateau

326 Tangale Bauchi

327 Tarok Plateau, Taraba

328 Teme Adamawa

329 Tera (Terawa) Bauchi, Bomo

330 Teshena (Teshenawa) Kano

331 Tigon Adamawa

332 Tikar Taraba

333 Tiv Benue, Plateau, Taraba

334 Tula Bauchi

335 Tur Adamawa

336 Ufia Benue

337 Ukelle Cross River

338 Ukwani (Kwale) Delta

339 Uncinda Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto

340 Uneme (Ineme) Edo

341 Ura (Ula) Niger

342 Urhobo Delta

343 Utonkong Benue

344 Uyanga Cross River

345 Vemgo Adamawa

346 Verre Adamawa

347 Vommi Taraba

348 Wagga Adamawa

349 Waja Bauchi

350 Waka Taraba

351 Warja (Warja) Jigawa

352 Warji Bauchi

353 Wula Adamawa

354 Wurbo Adamawa

355 Wurkun Taraba

356 Yache Cross River

357 Yagba Kwara

358 Yakurr (Yako) Cross River

359 Yalla Benue

360 Yandang Taraba

361 Yergan (Yergum) Plateau

362 Yoruba [Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi ]

363 Yott Taraba

364 Yumu Niger

365 Yungur Adamawa

366 Yuom Plateau

367 Zabara Niger

368 Zaranda Bauchi

369 Zarma (Zarmawa) Kebbi

370 Zayam (Zeam) Bauchi

371 Zul (Zulawa) Bauchi

Oluchi Chukwu

Oluchi is a seasoned Information blogger, content developer and the editor of Nigerian Queries. She is a tech enthusiast who loves reading, writing and research

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