Ondo State sits in Nigeria’s South West geopolitical zone, capital Akure. It has 18 local government areas and had a population of 3,460,877 at the 2006 census, projected to 5,316,600 in 2022. The state stretches from hilly farmland in the north to the Atlantic coast in the south, and its people speak several Yoruba dialects, including Akoko, Ondo, Ikale, and Ilaje. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Ondo State
All 18 official LGAs are listed alphabetically below, with 2006 census and 2022 projected population, so you can jump straight to the LGA covering your town or village.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Akoko North East | 179,092 | 275,100 |
| Akoko North West | 211,867 | 325,500 |
| Akoko South East | 82,443 | 126,600 |
| Akoko South West | 228,383 | 350,800 |
| Akure North | 130,765 | 200,900 |
| Akure South | 360,268 | 553,400 |
| Ese-Odo | 158,256 | 243,100 |
| Idanre | 129,795 | 199,400 |
| Ifedore | 176,372 | 270,900 |
| Ilaje | 289,838 | 445,200 |
| Ile-Oluji-Okeigbo | 171,876 | 264,000 |
| Irele | 144,136 | 221,400 |
| Odigbo | 232,287 | 356,800 |
| Okitipupa | 234,138 | 359,700 |
| Ondo East | 76,092 | 116,900 |
| Ondo West | 288,868 | 443,800 |
| Ose | 144,139 | 221,400 |
| Owo | 222,262 | 341,400 |
Ondo State has 18 official local government areas, and 14 of them have full town-and-village lists on this site.
Geography
Ondo State borders Ekiti and Kogi States to the north, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southeast, Ogun State to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean along its southern coast. The terrain runs from hilly uplands around Akoko and Idanre in the north to mangrove swamp and tidal creeks along the Ilaje and Ese-Odo coastline in the south. Idanre Hills, a range of ancient granite outcrops near Idanre town, is the state’s best-known landmark and a UNESCO tentative World Heritage Site. Ore, in Odigbo LGA, sits at the junction where the main east-west highway linking Lagos to the Niger Delta meets the road north to Akure, making it the state’s busiest transit town. Rivers draining the state include the Owena and the Ose, both flowing south toward the Atlantic through the coastal LGAs. The climate is tropical, with a wet season running roughly from April to October and a shorter dry season the rest of the year, heavier and longer in the forested south than in the drier Akoko hills to the north.
Economy & Local Life
Cocoa is the state’s signature crop, grown across the Akoko, Ondo, and Owo areas alongside oil palm, rubber, and timber, and Ondo is consistently ranked among Nigeria’s leading cocoa-producing states. The coastal LGAs of Ilaje and Ese-Odo depend on artisanal fishing and canoe transport through the creeks, and the same waters support offshore oil and gas platforms operated near the Ondo coastline. Owo is known for traditional leatherwork and bronze and brass casting, crafts tied to its history as an old Yoruba kingdom. Akure, the capital, carries the bulk of the state’s civil service jobs, banking, and wholesale trade, and hosts the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Timber logging and sawmilling remain active in the forest belt around Akoko and Owo. Weekly and periodic markets still set the rhythm of trade in most towns, with farmers bringing cocoa, cassava, and vegetables in from surrounding villages on market days. Idanre Hills also draws domestic visitors for hiking and cultural tourism, one of the few natural attractions of its kind in the state. Small-scale traders and okada riders link the villages to LGA headquarters and on to Akure, since most rural roads in the state are not paved.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Ondo State?
Ondo State has 18 local government areas, spread across the South West geopolitical zone from the northern Akoko hills to the Atlantic coast.
What is the capital of Ondo State?
The capital of Ondo State is Akure, also the state’s largest urban center and seat of government.
What is the population of Ondo State?
Ondo State had a population of 3,460,877 at the 2006 census, projected to 5,316,600 in 2022 based on the national growth rate applied since the last census.
Which LGA in Ondo State has the largest population?
Akure South is Ondo State’s most populous LGA, with 360,268 people at the 2006 census, projected to 553,400 in 2022. It contains most of Akure city, the state capital.
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