Kwara State sits in Nigeria’s North Central zone, with its capital at Ilorin. The state has 16 local government areas and recorded a population of 2,365,353 at the 2006 census, projected to 3,551,000 by 2022. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Kwara State
The table lists all 16 LGAs with their 2006 census and 2022 projected populations.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Asa | 124,668 | 187,200 |
| Baruten | 206,679 | 310,300 |
| Edu | 201,642 | 302,700 |
| Ekiti | 54,399 | 81,700 |
| Ifelodun | 204,975 | 307,700 |
| Ilorin East | 207,462 | 311,500 |
| Ilorin South | 209,251 | 314,100 |
| Ilorin West | 365,221 | 548,300 |
| Irepodun | 147,594 | 221,600 |
| Isin | 59,481 | 89,300 |
| Kaiama | 124,015 | 186,200 |
| Moro | 108,715 | 163,200 |
| Offa | 88,975 | 133,600 |
| Oke-Ero | 56,970 | 85,500 |
| Oyun | 94,454 | 141,800 |
| Pategi | 110,852 | 166,400 |
Kwara State has 16 official local government areas; none currently have a full town-and-village list on this site.
Geography
Kwara State lies in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, bridging the country’s northern and southern regions. It borders Niger State to the north, Kogi State to the east, Ekiti and Osun states to the south, Oyo State to the southwest, and the Republic of Benin to the west. The River Niger crosses the state’s northern LGAs, passing through Jebba and Patigi on its way downstream toward Kogi State. Smaller rivers, including the Asa and the Oyun, drain the central LGAs and give two of them their names. The terrain is mostly gently rolling savanna, with rock outcrops rising around Ilorin and its surrounding hills. Rainfall and vegetation shift gradually from wetter, wooded country in the south to drier, more open grassland toward the northern LGAs bordering Niger State. Ilorin, the capital, sits near the state’s southern edge, closer to the Yoruba heartland than to the Nupe and Baruba areas further north. Nupe communities in the northern LGAs, such as Edu and Pategi, share cultural and linguistic ties with Nupe communities across the border in Niger and Kogi states. Baruba communities in Baruten and Kaiama link Kwara to related communities across the border in the Republic of Benin.
Economy & Local Life
Farming drives the rural economy, with cassava, yam, rice, guinea corn, and groundnut grown widely across the LGAs. Fishing is common along the River Niger around Jebba and Patigi, where dams and the river’s floodplain support both fish and irrigated crops. Ilorin serves as the region’s main trading and administrative center, drawing commerce from across the North Central zone and linking the Yoruba-speaking south to the Hausa- and Nupe-speaking north. That position on old trade routes shaped the city’s early economy around kola nut, cotton, and dried fish. Local markets in towns such as Offa and Pategi support agricultural trade and small-scale manufacturing today. Weaving and pottery remain long-standing crafts practiced in and around Ilorin. The University of Ilorin, one of Nigeria’s larger federal universities, is a major local employer and draws students from across the country. Kwara’s population includes Yoruba, Nupe, and Baruba communities, making it one of Nigeria’s more ethnically mixed states. Pategi is known nationally for its annual regatta, a canoe-racing festival held on the River Niger. Ilorin’s emirate holds a Durbar procession during major Muslim festivals, a tradition tied to the city’s 19th-century history as an emirate capital. Cattle rearing and small-ruminant husbandry are common in the northern LGAs, alongside seasonal livestock trading. Kwara was created in 1967 as one of the original states carved out of Nigeria’s regions, first known as the West Central State before it took its present name. Offa and Jebba grew as market towns along old north-south trade and rail routes, and both remain local commercial centers within their LGAs today.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Kwara State?
Kwara State has 16 local government areas.
What is the capital of Kwara State?
Ilorin is the capital of Kwara State.
What is the population of Kwara State?
Kwara State recorded a population of 2,365,353 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 3,551,000 by 2022.
Which LGA in Kwara State has the largest population?
Ilorin West has the largest population among Kwara’s LGAs, with 365,221 people at the 2006 census, projected to 548,300 by 2022. It covers the western part of Ilorin, the state capital, and is by far the most populous of the three Ilorin LGAs.
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