Which State Has the Highest Speaking Language in Nigeria?
One of the most common and interesting questions people ask about Nigerian culture and demographics is: “Which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria?” This question may seem simple, but it opens up a deeper conversation about Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, language distribution by states, dominant languages in different regions, and the influence of language on culture, economy, education, and communication.
Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 500 indigenous languages spoken across its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Despite such diversity, a handful of languages dominate national communication due to population size, geography, and historical spread. Among all Nigerian languages, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo stand out as the most widely spoken languages nationwide.
In this detailed article, we will explore which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria — examining factors such as:
- What “highest speaking language” means
- How languages are measured in Nigeria
- The most spoken languages in Nigeria overall
- Which state has the highest number of speakers for each major language
- Regional language dominance
- Effects of migration, urbanisation, and modern communication
- Frequently asked questions and answers
Let’s begin by understanding Nigeria’s language ecosystem.
Understanding Nigeria’s Language Landscape
Nigeria Is One of the Most Multilingual Countries in the World
Nigeria is home to over 500 native languages, scattered across its geopolitical zones — North, South, East, West, and Central. These languages belong to several major language families, including:
- Niger-Congo (e.g., Yoruba, Igbo, Ibibio)
- Afroasiatic (e.g., Hausa)
- Nilo-Saharan (e.g., Kanuri)
The country’s official language is English, a legacy of colonial rule, used in government, education, media, and formal communication. However, indigenous languages remain central to daily life, identity, and culture in Nigeria.
Most Nigerians are multilingual — meaning they often speak their ethnic language, a regional lingua franca (such as Hausa or Nigerian Pidgin), and English. In some urban centres, languages like Nigerian Pidgin serve as everyday communication among people from different ethnic backgrounds.
What Does “Highest Speaking Language” Mean?
To answer “Which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria?”, we first need to define what that phrase means.
There are two main possible interpretations:
-
The language with the largest number of speakers nationwide:
Which language is spoken by the most people in Nigeria? -
The state where a particular language has the largest concentration of speakers:
For example, if Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Nigeria, which state has the highest number of Hausa speakers?
This article will explore both interpretations, with emphasis on the second question — identifying which Nigerian state continues to have the largest speaker base for Nigeria’s biggest languages.
Top Spoken Languages in Nigeria
According to recent surveys and linguistic data, the most widely spoken languages in Nigeria are:
- Hausa
- Yoruba
- Igbo
- English and Nigerian Pidgin
- Other languages like Ibibio, Fulfulde, Kanuri, Tiv, and more
In terms of household language usage:
- Hausa is spoken in around 32% of households
- Yoruba in about 17%
- Igbo in roughly 13%
- Other languages make up the remainder of spoken household languages in Nigeria.
This makes Hausa the most spoken indigenous language in Nigeria overall, followed by Yoruba and Igbo.
Nationwide: Which Language Is Spoken Most in Nigeria?
To understand which state might contain the largest speaking language, we must first identify the language families and their general regions:
1. Hausa (Afroasiatic)
- Spoken predominantly in Northern Nigeria: Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Plateau, and other northern states
- Serves as a regional lingua franca, especially in the North and North-Central Nigeria
- Spoken by millions both as a first and second language
- Also widely understood in parts of West Africa beyond Nigeria, such as Niger, Ghana, and Cameroon.
2. Yoruba (Niger-Congo)
- Dominant in Southwestern Nigeria — especially Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo
- Also spoken by communities in Kwara, Kogi, and neighboring countries like Benin and Togo
3. Igbo (Niger-Congo)
- Dominant in Southeastern Nigeria — including Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi
- Also spoken in parts of Delta, Rivers, and Cross River states due to internal migration
Together, these three languages form the backbone of Nigeria’s indigenous linguistic identity and answer the first part of the question about overall language dominance.
Which Language Has the Highest Number of Speakers in Nigeria?
Among Nigeria’s indigenous tongues, Hausa is the most widely spoken language across the largest number of people — giving it the title of Nigeria’s most “spoken language.” Hausa has tens of millions of first and second language speakers, far more than any other indigenous language.
However, we now tackle the key question: Which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria?
Which State Has the Highest Number of Hausa Speakers?
Since Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Nigeria, the state with the highest number of Hausa speakers becomes a strong candidate for “the state with the highest speaking language in Nigeria.”
Though there isn’t precise state-by-state census data publicly available for speaker counts, it is generally acknowledged among linguistic and population data that:
👉 Kano State is the Nigerian state where Hausa is most widely spoken and where the total number of speakers of Hausa is likely the highest.
Why Kano State?
-
Population Size:
Kano State is one of Nigeria’s most populous states, boasting one of the largest populations in the country. It has a high concentration of Hausa-speaking people in both urban and rural areas. -
Historical Significance:
Kano is one of the ancient Hausa city-states and a historic centre of trade, culture, and Islamic scholarship. Its role as a historical hub contributed to the widespread use of Hausa over centuries. -
Language Standards:
The Hausa dialect of Kano is often considered the standard or most influential variety used in media, literature, and education in Northern Nigeria, reinforcing its primacy in linguistic visibility. -
Urban and Rural Spread:
From Kano City to surrounding towns and villages, Hausa dominates everyday communication, markets, media consumption, and public life.
Because of these factors, Kano State is widely recognized as the state with the largest population of speakers of Hausa — Nigeria’s most spoken indigenous language.
Which State Has the Highest Number of Yoruba Speakers?
The next part of the question implicitly asks: if Hausa is the language with the highest number of speakers, which state has the most speakers for other major languages like Yoruba and Igbo?
For , the states with deep cultural dominance include:
- Lagos State — Nigeria’s largest city by population and home to many Yoruba speakers
- Oyo State — historically and linguistically rich in Yoruba culture
- Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo States — also primarily Yoruba-speaking
Among these, Lagos State — due to its huge population — likely has the highest number of Yoruba speakers in the country. Even though other states may have a higher percentage of Yoruba speaking people, Lagos’s sheer population size ensures that it has the largest absolute number of Yoruba speakers.
Which State Has the Highest Number of Igbo Speakers?
For Igbo, the language widely spoken in Southeastern Nigeria:
- Imo State
- Abia State
- Anambra State
- Ebonyi State
- Enugu State
Among these, Anambra State — featuring cities like Onitsha and Awka — tends to be a central cultural and population hub for Igbo speakers. However, Imo State and Abia State also have very large Igbo-speaking populations. Due to internal migration and cities like Port Harcourt attracting Igbo residents, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single state with the absolute highest Igbo speaker population, but Anambra and Imo States are often cited as having large concentrations of Igbo speakers.
How English and Nigerian Pidgin Fit In
Even though English is the official language of Nigeria, it is not indigenous, and therefore it isn’t usually discussed in the same way as indigenous languages when asking “Which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria?”
However:
- English is spoken across all states as a second language, especially in education, government, and business.
- Nigerian Pidgin (or Naija) is an increasingly common lingua franca, spoken widely in urban areas, especially in Lagos State and other metropolitan centres — but its speakers are not usually counted as indigenous language speakers in formal statistics.
Other Factors Affecting Language Spread
Migration and Urbanisation
Internal migration — driven by jobs, education, and trade — changes the linguistic map of Nigeria:
- Lagos attracts people from all over Nigeria, bringing Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and many smaller languages together.
- Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, is similarly diverse linguistically.
Even though Lagos has many speakers of different languages, it is not the state with the highest concentration of a single indigenous language in terms of pure numbers; instead, it’s Kano State for Hausa and Lagos State for Yoruba in absolute urban numbers.
Cultural Influence and Religion
In Northern Nigeria, particularly in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kaduna states, Hausa language dominance is reinforced by cultural, religious, and historic traditions, including Islamic scholarship and trade networks.
Answer Summary: Which State Has the Highest Speaking Language in Nigeria?
So, which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria? Here’s how it breaks down:
✔ Overall Most Spoken Indigenous Language in Nigeria:
👉 Hausa — most widely spoken indigenous language in Nigeria.
✔ State With the Highest Number of Speakers of That Language (Hausa):
👉 Kano State — widely considered the state with the highest number of Hausa speakers, making it the state where the most spoken indigenous language in Nigeria has its strongest speaker base.
✔ Most Speakers of Yoruba Language:
👉 Lagos State — due to large urban population, even though states like Oyo and Osun are culturally core Yoruba states.
✔ Most Speakers of Igbo Language:
👉 Anambra and Imo States — among the southeastern states with the largest numbers of Igbo speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which language is spoken by the most people in Nigeria?
A: Hausa is spoken by the most people in Nigeria, when both first- and second-language speakers are counted.
Q: Which state in Nigeria speaks Hausa the most?
A: Kano State has the highest number of Hausa speakers.
Q: Is English the most spoken language in Nigeria?
A: English is widely spoken as an official language but is not the most spoken indigenous language. Indigenous languages like Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo have more native and regional speakers.
Q: Can one state have multiple dominant languages?
A: Yes. States like Lagos and Abuja have diverse populations with speakers of many languages, but each indigenous language still has its regional home base.
Conclusion
So, the question “Which state has the highest speaking language in Nigeria?” ultimately points to a combination of demographics, language dominance, cultural history, and population. Based on available data and linguistic mapping:
🌍 Kano State stands out as the state with the highest number of speakers of Nigeria’s most widely spoken indigenous language, Hausa.