Lagos State
Nigeria's smallest state by area, largest by population.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Lagos State is a state in southwestern Nigeria, formed on 27 May 1967 from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory. It is the 1st or 2nd most populous state in Nigeria but the smallest by area, and it is named for the city of Lagos, the most populous city in Africa. The state is bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the Republic of Benin, and it borders only one other Nigerian state, Ogun State.
- created
- 27 May 1967
- capital
- Ikeja
- population_rank
- 1st or 2nd most populous in Nigeria
- area
- smallest by area among Nigerian states
- gdp
- $84 billion
- literacy_rate
- highest in Nigeria
- human_development_index
- highest in Nigeria
Lore & Background
Lagos State has been inhabited for years by indigenous ethnic groups, primarily the Yoruba, along with Ewe and Ogu peoples in the far west. Migration since the nineteenth century has brought large populations of non-native Nigerian ethnic groups such as Edo, Efik, Fulani, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw, Ibibio, and Nupe peoples. There are also groups from outside Nigeria's modern borders, including Saro (Sierra Leonean) and Amaro (Brazilian) descendants of formerly enslaved people who returned to Africa in the 1800s, a longstanding Middle Eastern Nigerian community (mainly Syrian and Lebanese Nigerians), and recent immigrants from Benin, China, Ghana, India, Togo, and the United Kingdom. Religiously, the state is diverse, with sizable numbers of Christians, Muslims, and traditional ethnic religions.
Reader's Guide
Lagos State is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world and a major financial centre with one of the largest economies in Africa, with a gross domestic product of $84 billion comparable to that of Ghana, Angola, and Ethiopia. It is a key cultural, education, and transportation hub for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, and it has the highest literacy rate and highest Human Development Index in Nigeria. The state is dominated by bodies of water, with nearly a quarter of its area being lagoons, creeks, and rivers, including the Lagos and Lekki lagoons. Non-urbanized areas are within the tropical Nigerian lowland forests ecoregion, containing threatened populations of mona monkey, tree pangolin, and hooded vulture, along with a transitory population of African forest elephants. Offshore, there are large fish populations, African manatees, and crocodiles. Despite overcrowding and chronic debilitating traffic, the state continues to host numerous development projects.
Did You Know?
- Lagos State is the only Nigerian state to border only one other state, Ogun State.
- Nearly a quarter of Lagos State's area is covered by lagoons, creeks, and rivers.
- The state has the highest literacy rate and highest Human Development Index in Nigeria.
- Lagos State's gross domestic product of $84 billion is comparable to that of Ghana, Angola, and Ethiopia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lagos State?
Lagos State is a Nigerian state in the southwest, carved out of the Western Region and the old Federal Capital Territory on 27 May 1967. Its administrative capital is Ikeja, and it takes its name from the city of Lagos, the most populous city in Africa.
What is Lagos State's economic role in Nigeria?
Despite being the smallest state by land area, Lagos produces roughly $84 billion in GDP, effectively serving as the country's economic engine. It also records the highest literacy rate of any Nigerian state.
What is Lagos State's current standing among the 36 states?
Lagos holds the 1st or 2nd spot in population while occupying the least territory of all Nigerian states. It borders only one other Nigerian state, Ogun, with the Bight of Benin to the south and the Republic of Benin to the west.
Why is Lagos State so important to Nigeria?
It uniquely combines the nation's highest population density with the smallest land footprint, making it a critical demographic and commercial hub. The sheer scale of its namesake city and its economic output give it outsized influence on national policy and trade.
When and how was Lagos State created?
The state was formally established on 27 May 1967 through a reorganization that split it from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory. This gave Lagos its own distinct administrative identity separate from the broader western region.
More in States Of Nigeria 1-20
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