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Largest Cities in Nigeria

Top 100 cities ranked by largest cities

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities
All Countries  ·  Nigeria

Largest Cities — Nigeria

1 Lagos 05 15,388,000
2 Kano 29 4,910,000
3 Ibadan 32 3,649,000
4 Abuja 11 2,690,000
5 Port Harcourt 50 2,120,000
6 Kaduna 23 1,850,000
7 Benin City 37 1,782,000
8 Onitsha 25 1,553,000
9 Aba 45 1,160,000
10 Maiduguri 27 1,110,000
11 Ilorin 30 1,080,000
12 Jos 49 1,040,000
13 Sokoto 51 1,040,000
14 Zaria 23 980,000
15 Enugu 47 950,000
16 Warri 36 910,000
17 Oyo 32 736,072
18 Abeokuta 16 735,000
19 Akure 48 730,000
20 Bauchi 46 693,700
21 Katsina 24 670,000
22 Osogbo 42 645,000
23 Gombe 55 560,000
24 Ile-Ife 42 560,000
25 Ajegunle 05 550,000
26 Owerri 28 545,000
27 Calabar 22 540,000
28 Ebute Ikorodu 05 535,619
29 Okene 41 479,178
30 Ikare 48 465,000
31 Yola 35 460,000
32 Uyo 21 436,606
33 Ado-Ekiti 54 435,000
34 Ogbomoso 32 433,030
35 Minna 31 425,000
36 Lekki 05 401,272
37 Bida 31 400,000
38 Makurdi 26 390,000
39 Ondo 48 375,000
40 Umuahia 45 370,000
41 Iseyin 32 365,300
42 Gboko 26 365,000
43 Yenagoa 52 365,000
44 Ijebu Ode 16 360,000
45 Obalende 05 342,000
46 Ilesa 42 325,000
47 Ikeja 05 313,196
48 Akowonjo 05 308,900
49 Alimosho 05 308,290
50 Sapele 36 305,000
51 Efon-Alaaye 54 279,319
52 Owo 48 276,574
53 Ikot Ekpene 21 254,806
54 Iwo 42 250,443
55 Jimeta 35 248,148
56 Atani 25 230,000
57 Aliayabiagba 05 228,000
58 Gusau 57 226,857
59 Mubi 35 225,705
60 Ikire 42 222,160
61 Shagamu 16 214,558
62 Ugep 22 200,276
63 Chakwama 39 200,000
64 Mushin 05 199,000
65 Nnewi 25 193,987
66 Surulere 05 191,920
67 Ise-Ekiti 54 190,063
68 Ila Orangun 42 179,192
69 Saki 32 178,677
70 Oshodi 05 170,870
71 Awka 25 167,738
72 Ijero-Ekiti 54 167,632
73 Inisa 42 164,161
74 Suleja 31 162,135
75 Ede 42 159,866
76 Kisi 32 155,510
77 Shomolu 05 154,390
78 Irewe 05 139,494
79 Gbongan 42 139,485
80 Ejigbo 42 138,357
81 Funtua 24 136,811
82 Igboho 32 136,764
83 Buguma 50 135,404
84 Ikirun 42 134,240
85 Abakaliki 53 134,102
86 Okrika 50 133,271
87 Amaigbo 45 127,300
88 Lafia 56 127,236
89 Gashua 44 125,817
90 Modakeke 42 119,529
91 Bama 27 118,121
92 Ilobu 42 118,089
93 Jalingo 43 117,757
94 Okigwe 28 115,499
95 Offa 30 113,830
96 Esuk Oron 21 112,033
97 Nsukka 47 111,017
98 Nguru 44 111,014
99 Hadejia 39 110,753
100 Ijebu-Igbo 16 109,261

The largest cities in Nigeria represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Lagos leads with a population of 15,388,000, followed by Kano and Ibadan. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. The top 10 cities span multiple states, showing that urban growth is distributed across different regions.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

  • 1. Lagos's population is larger than that of more than 30 U.S. states.
  • 2. The 50th largest city still has a population of 305,000 — larger than most cities worldwide.
  • 3. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 28,757,000.

Browse Rankings by Region

Nigeria — By Region

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