Benue State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria; its capital is Makurdi. It was created on 3 February 1976 from Benue-Plateau State. It is grouped in the North Central geopolitical zone.
Benue State was created on 3 February 1976, when Benue-Plateau State was divided into two new states, Benue and Plateau. It takes its name from the Benue River, one of Nigeria's largest rivers, which flows through the state. Its capital is Makurdi, and it is grouped in the North Central geopolitical zone.
The state borders Nasarawa State to the north, Taraba State to the east, Cross River and Ebonyi states to the south, Enugu State to the south-west and Kogi State to the west, and it shares an international boundary with Cameroon to the south-east.
Its present shape dates from 27 August 1991, when Kogi State was formed from parts of Benue and Kwara states. State and encyclopaedia sources, which share the same wording, describe the areas transferred from Benue as mostly Igala-speaking.
The Tiv, Idoma and Igede are the state's largest peoples, and smaller communities include the Etulo and the Jukun. The state government also names the Abakwa, Nyifon, Akweya and Ufia among its peoples.
Farming is central to the state's economy and identity, and its official slogan is "Food Basket of the Nation". Crops named by both the state government and other sources include yams, cassava, rice, soya beans, groundnuts and sesame (beniseed).
Before independence the area was part of a province of colonial Northern Nigeria. Sources that share the same wording say it was first called Munshi Province and was renamed after the Benue River in 1918; this has not yet been checked against colonial records.
The 2006 census counted 4,253,641 people, according to the National Population Commission figures reproduced by City Population. Other published figures, and the earlier and later counts, are listed below with their sources; Nigerian census results are disputed, so none of these figures should be read as exact.
The state government gives the state's extent as roughly latitude 6°25′ to 8°8′ North and longitude 7°47′ to 10°0′ East. It puts the area at about 34,059 square kilometres, while Statoids gives 30,755 square kilometres; both figures are recorded below rather than one being chosen.
The Benue River crosses the state, and the state government credits its floodplains with supporting much of the state's farming. The landscape is described as a mix of plains, hills and fertile valleys.
- 3 February 1976 — Benue State was created from Benue-Plateau State
- 27 August 1991 — Kogi State was created from Benue State
Tiv · Abakpa · Igbo · Hausa · Jukun · Ufia · Nyifon · Akweya · Etulo · Idoma · Igede
Basa-Makurdi · Otank · Iyive · Wannu · Nyifon · Oring · Akpa · Etulo · Igede · Idoma · Tiv
Nasarawa State · Taraba State · Cross River State · Ebonyi State · Enugu State · Kogi State
Each figure is shown with its year and source. Where sources differ, all figures are listed.
| Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,141,300 | 2022 | Benue (State, Nigeria) – Population Statistics |
| Population | 4,253,641 | 2006 | Benue (State, Nigeria) – Population Statistics |
| Population | 4,219,244 | 2006 | States of Nigeria |
| Population | 2,753,077 | 1991 | Benue (State, Nigeria) – Population Statistics |
| Area km² | 34,059 | — | About Benue State |
| Area km² | 30,755 | — | States of Nigeria |
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 — Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 · link
- States of Nigeria — Gwillim Law, Statoids · link
- List of Nigerian states by date of statehood — Wikipedia · link
- States of Nigeria — Wikipedia · link
- Country Guidance: Nigeria — General remarks — European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), February 2019 · link
- About Benue State — Benue State Government · link
- Benue State — Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia · link
- Benue State — Benue State Pension Commission · link
- Benue (State, Nigeria) – Population Statistics — Thomas Brinkhoff, City Population · link
Last updated 24 September 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.