Zamfara State sits in Nigeria’s North West geopolitical zone, with its capital at Gusau. The state has 14 local government areas and recorded a population of 3,278,873 at the 2006 census, projected to 5,833,500 by 2022. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it. Zamfara was created in 1996 out of the former Sokoto State, and Gusau has served as its administrative and commercial center since then.
Local Government Areas in Zamfara State
Zamfara’s 14 LGAs range from Gusau, the state capital and largest by population, to smaller rural areas along the Sokoto and Niger Republic borders. Several LGAs, including Bungudu, Maru and Kaura Namoda, carry projected 2022 populations above 400,000, reflecting the farming and trading communities spread across their district towns. The table below lists all 14 with their 2006 census figures and 2022 projections, in alphabetical order.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Anka | 143,637 | 255,500 |
| Bakura | 187,141 | 332,900 |
| Birnin Magaji | 184,083 | 327,500 |
| Bukkuyum | 216,348 | 384,900 |
| Bungudu | 258,644 | 460,200 |
| Gummi | 206,721 | 367,800 |
| Gusau | 383,712 | 682,700 |
| Kaura Namoda | 285,363 | 507,700 |
| Maradun | 207,563 | 369,300 |
| Maru | 293,141 | 521,500 |
| Shinkafi | 135,964 | 241,900 |
| Talata Mafara | 215,650 | 383,700 |
| Tsafe | 266,929 | 474,900 |
| Zurmi | 293,977 | 523,000 |
Zamfara has 14 official LGAs, and 4 of them have full town-and-village lists on this site. The remaining LGAs — Bakura, Bukkuyum, Bungudu, Gummi, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Maru, Shinkafi, Talata Mafara and Tsafe — are listed here with their census and projection figures while their village-level pages are still in progress.
Geography
Zamfara lies in Nigeria’s far northwest, sharing an international border with Niger Republic along its northern edge. Within Nigeria it borders Sokoto to the west, Katsina to the east, Kaduna to the southeast and Niger State to the south. The terrain is mostly flat to gently undulating savanna, drained by tributaries of the Sokoto River, with vegetation shifting from Sudan savanna in the south to drier Sahel scrubland toward the north. Gusau, the state capital, sits roughly at the geographic center, giving most LGAs reasonable road access to the state’s administrative and commercial hub. Rainfall is markedly seasonal, concentrated between June and September, which shapes both the farming calendar and the timing of local festivals and market cycles across the state’s towns and villages. The dry season brings the harmattan wind out of the Sahara, cutting visibility and humidity across the state from roughly November through February. Away from the main tarred roads linking Gusau to Sokoto, Kaduna and Katsina, many village roads are unpaved and can be difficult to pass in the height of the rainy season.
Economy & Local Life
Farming anchors most household income across Zamfara, with millet, sorghum, maize, cotton and groundnuts as the leading crops grown on rain-fed plots around district towns. Cattle, sheep and goat rearing is widespread, especially in the drier northern LGAs, and seasonal transhumance brings herders through the state on long-established grazing routes. Zamfara is also known nationally for artisanal gold mining, concentrated in areas such as Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru, alongside smaller-scale mining of other minerals. Weekly and daily markets remain the backbone of local trade in towns across the state, moving grain, livestock, dried fish and general goods between rural communities and Gusau. Leatherwork, blacksmithing and grain milling supplement farm income in many towns, and cross-border trade with Niger Republic supports commerce in the state’s northern LGAs. Groundnut oil processing and cotton ginning have long been small-scale industries around Gusau, drawing raw material in from the surrounding farming LGAs. Livestock traders from across the North West pass through Zamfara’s cattle markets on their way to southern Nigeria, making livestock one of the state’s most consistent sources of cash income alongside grain.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Zamfara State?
Zamfara State has 14 local government areas, from Anka in the west to Zurmi on the Niger Republic border in the northeast.
What is the capital of Zamfara State?
The capital of Zamfara State is Gusau, also the state’s most populous local government area.
What is the population of Zamfara State?
Zamfara State recorded a population of 3,278,873 at the 2006 census, projected to 5,833,500 by 2022.
Which LGA in Zamfara State has the largest population?
Gusau LGA has the largest population, recorded at 383,712 in the 2006 census and projected to 682,700 by 2022.
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