Ethnicities: The Middle Belt of Nigeria

There are six states in the “Middle Belt” of Nigeria known as Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Abuja, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Benue. There are 31.6 million people in this region of Nigeria. 

If it were a separate country, it would be the 15th largest country in Africa. There are 40 countries in Africa that are smaller in population size than the middle belt of Nigeria, such as Lesotho, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Mali. 

Niger state has the largest landmass in the Middle Belt of the country, measuring about 68,900 square kilometres. Niger has a population of 5.9 million; Kwara has a population of 3.4 million; Kogi has a population size of 4.8 million; Abuja has 4.3 million people; Nasarawa has 2.7 million people; Plateau state has 4.4 million people; while Benue has 6.1 million people.

The Middle is also a highly diverse part of Nigeria with 68 unique ethnicities. The most diverse state in Nigeria is Plateau state with 47 ethnicities. Plateau state has more ethnicities than Kenya which has around 42 ethnicities. 

Who are the ethnicities of the middle belt of Nigeria?

Kwara:

• Yoruba

• Fulani

• Nupe

• Baruba

• Igbo

Niger:

• Abawa

• Baruba 

• Gwari

• Nupe

• Uncinda

• Zabara

Kogi:

• Bassa

• Ebirra

• Igalla

• Yoruba

Abuja (FCT):

• Gwari

Nasarawa:

• Tiv

Plateau:

• Afizere

• Afo

• Amo

• Anaguta

• Ankwei

• Bache

• Barka

• Bassa

• Berom

• Boghom

• Bwatiye

• Challa

• Chama

• Chip

• Fyam

• Fyer

• Gashaka

• Gengle

• Goernai

• Horom

• Jarawa

• Jere

• Kiballo

• Kulere

• Kunini

• Kwalla

• Kwanka

• Manguna

• Mbol

• Mwahavul

• Ninzam

• Pankshin

• Pyapun

• Qua

• Rubu

• Shan-Shan

• Shilin

• South East Zaria

• Talet

• Tarok

• Tur

• Verre

• Vommi

• Yuom

• Yungur

• Yott

• Zur

Benue:

(1). Tiv

(2). Idoma

(3). Igede

(4). Etulo

(5). Abakwa

(6). Alago

(7). Bachama

(8). Chamba

(9). Eggon

(10). Eggon Alago

(11). Gade

(12). Ham

(13). Hausa

(14). Jaba

(15). Kabwa

(16). Kanufi

(17). Kiballo

(18). Koro

(19). Kwalla

(20). Lunguda

(21). Mabo

(22). Migili

(23). Mwaghavul

(24). Ninzam

(25). Nungu

(26). Nyandang

(27). Pyapun

(28). Reki

(29). Rishuwa

(30). Rubu

(31). Tangale

(32). Tapshin

(33). Tarok

(34). Yot

(35). Yungur

(36). Zabara