Top 10 Largest States In Nigeria By Land Area

This post contains information on the top 10 largest States in Nigeria by land area or land mass. Nigeria is one of the top countries in Africa, often widely regarded as the ‘Giant of Africa’, with a total land area of 923,768kmsq. It comprises of 36 states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

In Nigeria today, some of the largest states in the country by land mass are located in the North-West, North-East and North-Central Geopolitical Zones as opposed to some of the smallest states in Nigeria by land area. One of the northern states on this list is among the richest states in the country. With a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the most populous black nation on earth. If you are looking for information on the largest states in the country by land area, the answers are provided below.

TOP 10 LARGEST STATES IN NIGERIA BY LAND MASS: FULL LIST

The following are the 10 largest States in Nigeria by land area/mass currently:

NIGER STATE

Niger State is the largest state in Nigeria by land mass. The state is so large that if you are travelling within it, it is like travelling from Lagos to the Eastern part of Nigeria and you have not still reached your location. Niger state is situated in the North-Central Geopolitical Zone in the country. It comprises of 25 local governments and a total land area of 76,363 kmsq.

BORNO STATE

Borno State is the second largest state in Nigeria by land area with a total land mass of 57,799kmsq. It is situated in the north-eastern part of the country and it comprises of 27 local government areas. Borno state is the home of the Kanuri people and some other ethnic groups in the country native to the north-east, and has been for years, the base of the boko haram insurgency ravaging the northern part of Nigeria.

TARABA STATE

Taraba state is the third largest state in Nigeria by land area. It is situated in North-Eastern geopolitical zone in the country. The state has a total land area of 54,473 kmsq and it was named after the Taraba River. Taraba State is also home to the very popular Mambilla Plateau. The state shares land borders with Nasarawa and Benue states to the west, Plateau state to the north-west, Bauchi and Gombe states to the north, Cameroon to the east and south, and Adamawa state to the north-east. It comprises of 16 local government areas.

KADUNA STATE

Kaduna state is the fourth largest state in Nigeria by land area, with a total area of 46,053 kmsq. It is situated in the north-western part of the country and it is the only state on this list that is among the top 10 richest states in Nigeria by GDP. Kaduna state is made up of a total of 23 local government areas.

BAUCHI STATE

Bauchi state is the fifth largest state in Nigeria by land area. The state was created in 1976 after the split of the defunct North-Eastern State. Bauchi state is 13 times bigger than Lagos State. It has a total land area of 49,119 kmsq and it is famous for a number of tourist destinations such as the Yankari National Park and the  Wikki warm springs. Bauchi State is made up of 20 local government areas.

YOBE STATE

Yobe state is the sixth largest state in Nigeria, situated in north-eastern part of the country. It has a total land area of 45,502kmsq and it is made up of 17 local government areas. Yobe State is a mainly agricultural state that was carved out of Borno State. It shares borders with Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Jigawa States. It also shares borders to the north with Niger Republic.

ZAMFARA STATE

Zamfara state is the seventh largest state in Nigeria situated in the north-western part of the country with a total land area of 34,814 sqkm. The state is a purely agricultural state and until 1996, it was part of Sokoto State. Zamfara state shares land borders with Niger Republic to the north, Katsina to the east, Kaduna to the south and Sokoto and Niger states. Zamfara state is dubbed the ‘Home of Sharia’ as it was the first state in the country to introduce the practice of Sharia law. Zamfara state comprises of 14 local government areas.

ADAMAWA STATE

Adamawa state is the eighth largest state in Nigeria by land area. It is located in the north-eastern part of the country. The state has a total land area of 36,917 kmsq. It is 11 times the size of Lagos State and 5 times the size of Akwa Ibom State and its capital city is Yola. Adamawa State is bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, Taraba to the south-west and Cameroon to the east. The state is a mountainous land made up large river valleys: Benue, Gongola and Yedsarem. The valleys of the Mount Cameroon, Mandara Mountains and Adamawa Plateau also form part of the landscape. Adamawa state is made up of 21 local government areas.

KWARA STATE

Kwara state is ninth largest state in Nigeria by land area. It is situated in the south-western part of the country with a total land area of 36,852 kmsq. Kwara has a land area of about 36,825 kmsq, making it 11 times bigger than Lagos, almost 5 times bigger than Akwa Ibom and 1.8 times the size of Kano state. As is the case with most states in the country, agriculture is the primary economic activity here. Kwara state, though situated in western Nigeria with its capital in Ilorin, is part of the north-central geopolitical zone. The primary ethnic group in Kwara is Yoruba, with other minorities such as Nupe, Bariba, and Fulani also in existence there. The state comprises of sixteen local government areas.

KEBBI STATE

Kebbi state is the tenth largest state in Nigeria by land area. It is situated in north-western part of the country with Birnin-Kebbi as its capital. Kebbi state has a total land area of 36,800 kmsq and it was created in August 1991 from Sokoto State. Kebbi state shares land borders with Sokoto State, Niger State, Zamfara State, the Republic of Benin and some part of the Niger Republic. The state is made up of 21 local government areas.