Osun State sits in Nigeria’s South West geopolitical zone, with its capital at Oshogbo. The state has 30 local government areas and recorded a population of 3,416,959 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 4,435,800 by 2022. Osun was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991 and takes its name from the Osun River, sacred to worshippers of the Yoruba river goddess Osun. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Osun State
Osun’s 30 LGAs range from Iwo, the most populous, to Ifedayo, the smallest. Many share names with the historic Yoruba towns at their centre, such as Ife North and Ife South around Ile-Ife, or Ede North and Ede South around Ede. Figures below are the 2006 census count and the 2022 projection for each LGA.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Aiyedaade | 149,569 | 194,200 |
| Aiyedire | 76,309 | 99,100 |
| Atakunmosa East | 76,105 | 98,800 |
| Atakunmosa West | 68,350 | 88,700 |
| Boluwaduro | 70,954 | 92,100 |
| Boripe | 138,742 | 180,100 |
| Ede North | 83,818 | 108,800 |
| Ede South | 75,489 | 98,000 |
| Egbedore | 73,969 | 96,000 |
| Ejigbo | 132,515 | 172,000 |
| Ife Central | 167,204 | 217,100 |
| Ifedayo | 37,508 | 48,700 |
| Ife East | 188,614 | 244,900 |
| Ifelodun | 96,444 | 125,200 |
| Ife North | 153,274 | 199,000 |
| Ife South | 134,490 | 174,600 |
| Ila | 62,054 | 80,600 |
| Ilesha East | 105,416 | 136,800 |
| Ilesha West | 106,809 | 138,700 |
| Irepodun | 119,590 | 155,200 |
| Irewole | 142,806 | 185,400 |
| Isokan | 102,060 | 132,500 |
| Iwo | 191,348 | 248,400 |
| Obokun | 116,850 | 151,700 |
| Odo-Otin | 132,078 | 171,500 |
| Ola-Oluwa | 76,227 | 99,000 |
| Olorunda | 131,649 | 170,900 |
| Oriade | 148,379 | 192,600 |
| Orolu | 102,832 | 133,500 |
| Osogbo | 155,507 | 201,900 |
Osun State has 30 official local government areas, and 24 of them have full town-and-village lists on this site.
Geography
Osun is a landlocked state in Nigeria’s South West, bordered by Oyo to the west, Kwara to the north, Ekiti and Ondo to the east, and Ogun to the south. The Osun River, which gives the state its name, rises in the Ife-Ijesa uplands and runs south through Ife East and Osogbo toward the Bight of Benin. Tropical rainforest and derived savanna cover most of the landscape, with low hills rising around Ilesa and Ejigbo. Ile-Ife, one of the state’s oldest towns, is widely regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilization and still hosts the Ooni of Ife’s palace. Ilesa, seat of the Owa Obokun, and Iwo, seat of the Oluwo, are other long-established Yoruba towns within the state. Rainfall is heaviest from April to October, supporting the forest belt that once covered much of the region.
Economy & Local Life
Farming dominates rural life across the LGAs, with cocoa, cassava, yam, maize, and kola nut as the leading crops. Cocoa built much of the state’s early wealth and remains a major export crop around Ife, Ijesa, and Aiyedaade. Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Iwo anchor trade and markets, drawing farmers and traders from across the region on market days. Ile-Ife’s adire tie-dye cloth tradition and Iwo’s leatherwork remain local crafts passed down through generations of families. Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife and Osun State University in Osogbo give the state a strong education sector alongside farming and trade. Weekly markets in towns such as Ejigbo, Ila, and Iwo remain the main outlet for local produce, while artisans in Ile-Ife carve wood and cast bronze in styles tied to the town’s ancient bronze-casting tradition. The annual Osun-Osogbo festival draws worshippers and visitors to the sacred grove in Osogbo each August, and cassava processing into garri and fufu supports many rural households across the LGAs.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Osun State?
Osun State has 30 local government areas, spread across Nigeria’s South West geopolitical zone.
What is the capital of Osun State?
The capital of Osun State is Oshogbo, sometimes spelled Osogbo. It is home to the Osun-Osogbo sacred grove on the banks of the Osun River.
What is the population of Osun State?
Osun State recorded a population of 3,416,959 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 4,435,800 by the 2022 projection. The 1991 census, taken the year the state was created, recorded 2,158,143 people across the same area.
Which LGA in Osun State has the largest population?
Iwo has the largest population of any LGA in Osun State, with 191,348 people at the 2006 census. Ife East follows closely with 188,614 people at the same census.
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