Nigeria States Map Quiz at a Glance
Nigeria has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) around Abuja, the capital. The Nigeria States Map Quiz is a free game from DodoThinks: a state is named and you click it on a blank map of Nigeria. A second round names the state capital, a third names one of 77 other cities and towns, and a Whole map round asks all 37. No sign-up.
- States
- 36, plus the FCT
- Capital
- Abuja (Federal Capital Territory)
- Largest state
- Niger (76,363 km²)
- Smallest state
- Lagos (3,577 km²)
- Most people
- Kano (about 15.5 million)
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
How to Play the Nigeria States Map Quiz
- Before you start, tap any state to see its name, or press "Show names" to label them all.
- Pick a round: States names each state, Capitals names its capital, Cities names one of 77 cities and towns, and Whole map asks all 36 states and the FCT once each.
- Click the right state. The Federal Capital Territory, in the middle of the country, counts as one of the answers.
- After each answer the right state lights up, so a mistake still teaches you where it is.
How many states are in Nigeria?
Nigeria has 36 states and one Federal Capital Territory, 37 units in all. The last six states (Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara) were created in 1996. Before that there were 30 states, and at independence in 1960 there were three regions. The FCT is not a state: it is run by a minister for the federal government, and Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital in 1991.
The six geopolitical zones
North Central: Benue, the FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau. North East: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. North West: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara. South East: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. South South: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers. South West: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. The zones are not in the constitution, but they are used to share out federal posts and money, so most Nigerians know them.
Capitals that are not the biggest city
Lagos is the biggest city in Nigeria, but the capital of Lagos State is Ikeja. In Oyo State the capital is Ibadan, not Oyo town, and in Rivers State it is Port Harcourt. Many northern states share a name with their capital: Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi and Gombe. Kebbi's capital is Birnin Kebbi, and Delta's is Asaba, not Warri.
36 states of Nigeria and their capitals
Nigeria has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Population is the 2022 projection by the National Population Commission, rounded; the last census was in 2006 (140.4 million people), and the 2022 projection for the whole country is 216.8 million.
| # | State | Capital | Zone | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abia | Umuahia | South East | 4.1 million |
| 2 | Adamawa | Yola | North East | 4.9 million |
| 3 | Akwa Ibom | Uyo | South South | 5.0 million |
| 4 | Anambra | Awka | South East | 6.0 million |
| 5 | Bauchi | Bauchi | North East | 8.3 million |
| 6 | Bayelsa | Yenagoa | South South | 2.5 million |
| 7 | Benue | Makurdi | North Central | 6.1 million |
| 8 | Borno | Maiduguri | North East | 6.1 million |
| 9 | Cross River | Calabar | South South | 4.4 million |
| 10 | Delta | Asaba | South South | 5.6 million |
| 11 | Ebonyi | Abakaliki | South East | 3.2 million |
| 12 | Edo | Benin City | South South | 4.8 million |
| 13 | Ekiti | Ado-Ekiti | South West | 3.6 million |
| 14 | Enugu | Enugu | South East | 4.7 million |
| 15 | Federal Capital Territory | Abuja | North Central | 3.1 million |
| 16 | Gombe | Gombe | North East | 4.0 million |
| 17 | Imo | Owerri | South East | 5.5 million |
| 18 | Jigawa | Dutse | North West | 7.5 million |
| 19 | Kaduna | Kaduna | North West | 9.0 million |
| 20 | Kano | Kano | North West | 15.5 million |
| 21 | Katsina | Katsina | North West | 10.4 million |
| 22 | Kebbi | Birnin Kebbi | North West | 5.6 million |
| 23 | Kogi | Lokoja | North Central | 4.5 million |
| 24 | Kwara | Ilorin | North Central | 3.6 million |
| 25 | Lagos | Ikeja | South West | 13.5 million |
| 26 | Nasarawa | Lafia | North Central | 2.9 million |
| 27 | Niger | Minna | North Central | 6.8 million |
| 28 | Ogun | Abeokuta | South West | 6.4 million |
| 29 | Ondo | Akure | South West | 5.3 million |
| 30 | Osun | Osogbo | South West | 4.4 million |
| 31 | Oyo | Ibadan | South West | 8.0 million |
| 32 | Plateau | Jos | North Central | 4.7 million |
| 33 | Rivers | Port Harcourt | South South | 7.5 million |
| 34 | Sokoto | Sokoto | North West | 6.4 million |
| 35 | Taraba | Jalingo | North East | 3.6 million |
| 36 | Yobe | Damaturu | North East | 3.6 million |
| 37 | Zamfara | Gusau | North West | 5.8 million |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states are there in Nigeria?
36 states, plus the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), which is not a state. That makes 37 units on the map.
What are the 36 states of Nigeria and their capitals?
Abia: Umuahia; Adamawa: Yola; Akwa Ibom: Uyo; Anambra: Awka; Bauchi: Bauchi; Bayelsa: Yenagoa; Benue: Makurdi; Borno: Maiduguri; Cross River: Calabar; Delta: Asaba; Ebonyi: Abakaliki; Edo: Benin City; Ekiti: Ado-Ekiti; Enugu: Enugu; Gombe: Gombe; Imo: Owerri; Jigawa: Dutse; Kaduna: Kaduna; Kano: Kano; Katsina: Katsina; Kebbi: Birnin Kebbi; Kogi: Lokoja; Kwara: Ilorin; Lagos: Ikeja; Nasarawa: Lafia; Niger: Minna; Ogun: Abeokuta; Ondo: Akure; Osun: Osogbo; Oyo: Ibadan; Plateau: Jos; Rivers: Port Harcourt; Sokoto: Sokoto; Taraba: Jalingo; Yobe: Damaturu; Zamfara: Gusau. The Federal Capital Territory's city is Abuja.
Which is the largest state in Nigeria?
Niger State, 76,363 km², followed by Borno and Taraba. Lagos is the smallest state, 3,577 km², but one of the most populous.
Which state has the most people?
Kano, with about 15.5 million people in the 2022 projection, then Lagos with about 13.5 million. Bayelsa has the fewest.
What is the capital of Lagos State?
Ikeja. Lagos was also the capital of Nigeria until 1991, when the government moved to Abuja.
What are the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria?
North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South and South West. Each groups five to seven states; the FCT is counted in North Central.
Made by Kashif Sulehria in Lahore, Pakistan. Updated October 21, 2026.