10 Largest States in Nigeria By Landmass

Most of the biggest states in Nigeria land mass-wise are situated in the Northern part of Nigeria. The Northern part of Nigeria contributes about 75 per cent of Nigeria’s total landmass, meaning most of Nigeria’s land space is rested in the Northern part of Nigeria. North Central, North East, and the North West make up for the total zones that contribute 75% of Nigeria’s landmass.

Of the 36 states in Nigeria, the Northern region, including the middle belt, has 19 states (excluding the Federal Capital Territory) while the Southern region of Nigeria holds 17 states.

Largest States in Nigeria By Landmass

Below are the top ten biggest states in Nigeria by landmass:

1. Niger State

Located in the North-Central part of Nigeria, otherwise known as the middle-belt, Niger state is Nigeria’s largest state. The surface area of Niger state stands at 76,363 km², meaning it conveniently covers approximately 8.3 per cent of the entire size of Nigeria. It is no surprise, then, that Nigeria got her name from the Niger (Niger Area). Niger state is notably bigger than countries such as Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, Ireland, Costa Rica, Slovakia, Belgium, Israel, Togo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

2. Borno State

Borno state is located in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria and is, as a matter of fact, Nigeria’s 2nd-largest state with a landmass of around 70,898 km². Borno state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State. The earlier version of Borno boasted the largest landmass in Nigeria up until 1991 when Yobe was carved out of it, leading to a reduction from its over 100,000 km² land size. Borno is the homeland of the Kanuri people in Nigeria. With its present size, Borno state is comfortably bigger than countries such as Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, Ireland, Costa Rica, Slovakia, Belgium, Israel, Togo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

3. Taraba State

Taraba, another state located in North-Eastern Nigeria, boasts the 3rd-largest landmass with a surface area of 54,473 km². The state got its name from the Taraba River which traverses the Southern part of the state. Taraba is home to Mumuyeng, Kuteb, Gurnam tribes, among others. With its surface area, Taraba is conveniently bigger than countries such as Belgium, Israel, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, & Slovakia, Albania

4. Kaduna State

Kaduna is Nigeria’s 4th biggest state in terms of landmass. It is located in the North-Western geopolitical zone of Nigeria and boasts a surface area of 46,053 km². The capital of the state is located in the city of Kaduna, which is also one of the commercial centres therein. Dominated by Baju, Hausa, Gbagyi tribes among others, Kaduna state is notably bigger than countries such as Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia, Albania, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Armenia, Lesotho & Solomon Islands.

5. Bauchi State

Just behind Kaduna is Bauchi, sitting as the fifth-biggest state in Nigeria. The state boasts of a land area of around 45,837 km². The capital of Bauchi is Bauchi (same name), which is also one of the largest cities within it. Bauchi was formed in 1976. And in 1996, Gombe was carved out of it, thereby reducing its initial size to the present land area of 45,837 km². Despite its present size, Bauchi state trumps countries such as Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia, Albania, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Armenia, Lesotho & Solomon Islands.

6. Yobe State

With a land area of 45,502 km², Yobe state, Borno’s offspring, is the sixth biggest state in Nigeria. Yobe came to light on the 27th of August, 1991 after it was carved out of Borno state by Ibrahim Babangida, the then president of Nigeria. Given Yobe’s land area, the state is bigger than countries such as Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia, Albania, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Armenia, Lesotho & Solomon Islands.

7. Zamfara State

Covering a land surface area of 39,762 km², Zamfara State is Nigeria’s 7th biggest state. It is located within the North-Western region of Nigeria and its capital is Gusau. The Fulanis and Hausas are the major ethnic groups in the state, with several other smaller ethnic societies making up the entire population. Zamfara was created from Sokoto state in 1996 by the then Head of States, Late General Sani Abacha. Zamfara state is no doubt bigger than countries such as Jamaica, Cyprus, Rwanda, Belgium, Haiti, Kuwait, Israel The Gambia, Moldova & Taiwan.

8. Adamawa state

Adamawa is Nigeria’s eighth biggest state with a land area of 36,917 km². Adamawa was formerly part of the defunct Gongola State. It was renamed Adamawa after Taraba was carved out of it in 1991. Despite being far from the biggest state in Nigeria, landmass-wise, Adamawa is bigger than countries such as Jamaica, Cyprus, Rwanda, Belgium, Haiti, Kuwait, Israel The Gambia, Moldova & Taiwan.

9. Kwara state

Kwara is the ninth-biggest state in Nigeria with a land area of 36,825 km². It is noteworthy that Kwara is the first fairly dominated Yoruba state to make the cut. Kwara is located within the North Central geopolitical zone, commonly referred to as the Middle Belt. And the state capital is Ilorin. Just like Zamfara and Adamawa, Kwara state is bigger than Jamaica, Cyprus, Rwanda, Belgium, Haiti, Kuwait, Israel The Gambia, Moldova & Taiwan. The primary ethnic groups are Yoruba, Nupe, Bariba, and Fulani. The Yorubas are the majority tribes while the last 3 make up some of the significant minorities within Kwara.

10. Kebbi state

Kebbi is Nigeria’s tenth biggest state with a surface area of 36,800 km². It is located in North-Western Nigeria and it is dominated by inhabitants of Hausa and Fulani descent. The capital of the state is Birnin Kebbi, which is also one of its biggest cities and commercial centres. Kebbi joins the list of Nigerian states bigger than countries such as Jamaica, Cyprus, Rwanda, Belgium, Haiti, Kuwait, Israel The Gambia, Moldova & Taiwan.

Largest States in Nigeria By Landmass