Adamawa State sits in Nigeria’s North East geopolitical zone, with its capital at Yola. The state has 21 local government areas and recorded a population of 3,178,950 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 4,902,100 by 2022. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Adamawa State
Adamawa’s 21 LGAs run from the Mandara foothills in the north, through the Benue floodplain around Yola and Numan, down to the Taraba border in the south, and the table below lists each one with its 2006 census figure and 2022 population projection.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Demsa | 178,407 | 275,100 |
| Fufore | 209,460 | 323,000 |
| Ganye | 169,948 | 262,100 |
| Girei | 129,855 | 200,200 |
| Gombi | 147,787 | 227,900 |
| Guyuk | 176,505 | 272,200 |
| Hong | 169,183 | 260,900 |
| Jada | 168,445 | 259,700 |
| Lamurde | 111,254 | 171,600 |
| Madagali | 135,142 | 208,400 |
| Maiha | 110,175 | 169,900 |
| Mayo-Belwa | 152,803 | 235,600 |
| Michika | 155,238 | 239,400 |
| Mubi North | 151,515 | 233,600 |
| Mubi South | 129,956 | 200,400 |
| Numan | 91,549 | 141,200 |
| Shelleng | 148,490 | 229,000 |
| Song | 195,188 | 301,000 |
| Toungo | 52,179 | 80,500 |
| Yola North | 199,674 | 307,900 |
| Yola South | 196,197 | 302,500 |
Adamawa State has 21 official local government areas, and 18 of them have full town-and-village lists on this site, with the rest listed here by name and population only until we complete their profiles.
Geography
Adamawa borders Borno State to the north, Gombe State to the west, Taraba State to the south, and Cameroon along its eastern edge. The Mandara Mountains rise along that eastern border, giving way to rolling highlands around Mubi and Michika. Further west and south, the terrain flattens into savanna and floodplain along the Benue River and its major tributary, the Gongola River, which meets the Benue near Numan. The Benue floodplain around Numan and Lamurde floods seasonally, supporting fishing and dry-season farming after the water recedes. Like most of northern Nigeria, the state has a single wet season, roughly June to October, followed by a long dry season. The mix of highland, river valley, and open savanna gives the state some of the most varied terrain in the North East zone, and it shapes where farming, grazing, and fishing each dominate the local economy.
Economy & Local Life
Farming drives the local economy, with cotton, groundnuts, guinea corn, and maize as staple crops across the state’s LGAs. Cattle rearing is widespread on the savanna areas around Song, Gombi, and Guyuk, and livestock markets in those towns draw traders from across the region. The Benue floodplain around Numan has long supported irrigated and dry-season farming, and the area was historically home to a major sugar estate that anchored the local economy for decades. Yola and its twin town Jimeta serve as the state’s main trading and transport hub, with cross-border commerce reaching into neighboring Cameroon through border markets in the east. Fishing along the Benue and Gongola rivers supplements farming income in riverine communities, and dried fish from the Numan and Lamurde axis is traded across the state. Small-scale trading, tailoring, and transport work employ much of the population in the towns, while grain and produce markets in Yola, Mubi, and Ganye serve as collection points for farm goods headed to markets further south. Fulfulde and Hausa are widely spoken alongside numerous local languages, reflecting the state’s mix of Fulani, Hausa, and dozens of smaller ethnic communities across its highland and lowland LGAs.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Adamawa State?
Adamawa State has 21 local government areas. Each one is listed in the table above, with a link to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
What is the capital of Adamawa State?
Yola is the capital of Adamawa State. It sits on the Benue River alongside its twin town, Jimeta, which forms the state’s main commercial center, and together the two form the largest urban area in the state.
What is the population of Adamawa State?
Adamawa State recorded a population of 3,178,950 at the 2006 census. That figure is projected to reach 4,902,100 by 2022.
Which LGA in Adamawa State has the largest population?
Fufore is the most populous LGA in Adamawa State, with 209,460 residents at the 2006 census. Yola North and Yola South follow closely, each with populations near 200,000, and together the two Yola LGAs anchor the state’s largest urban cluster.
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