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.
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
