# Benue State, Nigeria – Local government areas & Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/

State · Nigeria 

# Benue State

Benue State is a state of Nigeria. It had an estimated **6,141,284 people** in 2022 on 31,483 km² (about 195 per km²). Its main town is Makurdi. It is divided into 23 local government areas. 5,945 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 141 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 6,141,284people (2022)
- 31,483km²
- 23local government areas
- 141mapped services

## How many people live in Benue State?

Benue State had an estimated **6,141,284 people** in 2022 — 2.8% of Nigeria, 12th of 37 states. There are 1,023 women for every 1,000 men (above the Nigeria figure of 1,001). Spread over 31,483 km², that is about **195 people per km²**, 25th of 37 states.

40.1% of people are children under 15 and 2.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 19 across Nigeria). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 74 children and older people.

0–4 ****863,120**

5–9 ****814,492**

10–14 ****785,008**

15–19 ****707,923**

20–24 ****616,071**

25–29 ****491,866**

30–34 ****403,592**

35–39 ****353,513**

40–44 ****298,615**

45–49 ****228,514**

50–54 ****177,496**

55–59 ****138,872**

60–64 ****104,155**

65–69 ****68,186**

70–74 ****43,281**

75–79 ****26,106**

80+ ****20,474**

Source: [UNFPA and United States Census Bureau - PEPFAR program via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-nga).

## Where is Benue State?

Benue State lies in [Nigeria](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/). It borders 6 other states: [Cross River State](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/cross-river/), [Ebonyi State](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/ebonyi/), [Enugu State](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/enugu/), [Kogi State](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/kogi/), [Nasarawa State](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/nasarawa/) and [Taraba State](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/taraba/). By area it is the 12th largest of 37 states in Nigeria. It covers 3.5% of [Nigeria](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/). The centre of Benue State is about 243 km in a straight line from Abuja, the capital. The centre point is at 7.3009° N, 8.8124° E.

Source: [Office for the Surveyor General of the Federation of Nigeria (OSGOF), Ehealth, United Nations Cartographic Section (UNCS) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-nga).

## Things to see in and around Benue State

OpenStreetMap lists 1 named sights in Benue State: 1 monument.

- WURUKUM ROUND ABOUT · monument

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Benue State

- Time zoneUTC+1, no daylight saving · Africa/Lagos
- CurrencyNaira (NGN)
- Country calling code+234
- LanguagesEnglish, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulah
- Plug typesType D, G · 230 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format6 digits (######)

### Nearest airports

- Makurdi Airport (MDI) · Makurdi50 km
- Akanu Ibiam International Airport (ENU) · Enegu166 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.5 hours, sunrise around 06:08) and shortest in Dec (about 11.7 hours, sunrise around 06:28, sunset around 18:10).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:41 18:25 11.7 h 

Feb 06:42 18:35 11.9 h 

Mar 06:32 18:36 12.1 h 

Apr 06:16 18:33 12.3 h 

May 06:07 18:34 12.4 h 

Jun 06:08 18:41 12.5 h 

Jul 06:15 18:45 12.5 h 

Aug 06:18 18:40 12.4 h 

Sep 06:15 18:25 12.2 h 

Oct 06:11 18:09 12.0 h 

Nov 06:15 18:03 11.8 h 

Dec 06:28 18:10 11.7 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Local government areas of Benue State

Local government area Area km² Localities Services 

[Ado](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/ado/) 1,187 12 0 

[Agatu](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/agatu/) 1,048 47 1 

[Apa](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/apa/) 927 33 0 

[Buruku](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/buruku/) 1,173 686 5 

[Gboko](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/gboko/) 1,900 1,646 26 

[Guma](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/guma/) 2,863 265 1 

[Gwer East](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/gwer-east/) 1,994 448 4 

[Gwer West](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/gwer-west/) 1,432 384 0 

[Katsina-Ala](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/katsina-ala/) 2,691 525 4 

[Konshisha](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/konshisha/) 1,685 846 4 

[Kwande](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/kwande/) 2,352 144 6 

[Logo](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/logo/) 1,626 430 0 

[Makurdi](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/makurdi/) 812 188 69 

[Obi](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/obi/) 497 36 0 

[Ogbadibo](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/ogbadibo/) 603 14 3 

[Ohimini](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/ohimini/) 599 26 0 

[Oju](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/oju/) 1,190 23 0 

[Okpokwu](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/okpokwu/) 925 23 1 

[Oturkpo](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/oturkpo/) 1,363 117 13 

[Tarka](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/tarka/) 477 97 1 

[Ukum](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/ukum/) 1,784 575 1 

[Ushongo](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/ushongo/) 1,380 736 1 

[Vandeikya](https://wherepedia.org/nigeria/benue/vandeikya/) 978 45 1 

Source: [Office for the Surveyor General of the Federation of Nigeria (OSGOF), Ehealth, United Nations Cartographic Section (UNCS) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-nga); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in Benue State

Open gazetteers list **5,945 villages, towns and localities** in Benue State. The largest with a recorded population: Makurdi (390,000), Gboko (365,000), Katsina-Ala (36,722), Otukpa (21,686), Igbor (17,666) and Ugbokpo (14,218). Settlements here lie between about 50 m and 448 m above sea level (median 153 m).

- Aa
- Aakaa
- Aakar
- Aakyor
- Aanaka
- Aanakar
- Aande
- Aangel
- Aaregh
- Aave
- Aayongu
- Aayonso-Ndoor
- Aba
- Abaa
- Abaagu
- Abaal
- Abaamo
- Abacha
- Abacia
- Abada
- Abaganya
- Abagi
- Abah
- Abahwange
- Abaji
- Abaka
- Abako
- Abakpa
- Abakume
- Abali
- Abam
- Aban
- Abangel
- Abanger
- Abankwa
- Abanya
- Abanyinga
- Abar
- Abata
- Abaver
- Abaya
- Abayo
- Abayon
- Abayor
- Abdajio
- Abe
- Abeda
- Abee
- Abeh
- Abeke
- Abela
- Aben
- Abenga
- Abeve
- Abezer
- Abi
- Abia
- Abiala
- Abian
- Abida
- Abiji
- Abingi
- Abinsi
- Abir
- Abite
- Abo
- Aboa
- Abochol
- Abogbe
- Abojor
- Aboki
- Aboko
- Abon
- Abondo
- Abonji
- Aboor
- Abor
- Abosha
- Aboshin
- Abotyo
- Aboyue
- Abu
- Abua
- Abudaa
- Abuga
- Abuku
- Abul
- Abul-Ivur
- Abula
- Abulu
- Abum
- Abume
- Abun
- Abunde
- Abunku
- Abur
- Abura
- Aburghur
- Aburo Ikule
- Abushin
- Abutse
- Abutu
- Abuu
- Abuul
- Abwa
- Abwar
- Abwe
- Abya
- Acha
- Achaa
- Achaka
- Achaku
- Achal
- Achale
- Acham
- Achambe
- Achamber
- Achan
- Acheche
- Achi
- Achia
- Achii
- Achika
- Achil
- Achila
- Achilgbenda
- Achimba
- Achin
- Achin Zegi
- Achinba
- Achinge
- Achiogh
- Achir
- Achiriah
- Achitar
- Acho
- Achoho
- Achongh
- Achough
- Achu
- Achuwa
- Acka
- Ada
- Adaa
- Adaaku
- Adaashi
- Adabre
- Adagba
- Adagbo
- Adago
- Adagume
- Adagunsu
- Adam
- Adamawa
- Adamgbe
- Adamho
- Adamu
- Adana
- Adangel
- Adanger
- Adankari
- Adanyi
- Adar
- Adashi
- Adawa
- Adaye
- Ade
- Adebo
- Adebor
- Adecha-Atologh
- Adee
- Adeega
- Adeen
- Adega
- Adegh
- Adegha
- Adehwagh
- Adeime
- Adejime
- Adekaa
- Adekule
- Adekwagh
- Adem
- Adenge
- Adesanga
- Adesugh
- Adi
- Adidabe
- Adidi
- Adigam
- Adigena
- Adighi
- Adigi
- Adikpo
- Adima
- Adinya
- Adir
- Adiya
- Ado
- Adodo
- Adogo
- Adogom
- Adoka
- Adom
- Adomee
- Adoo
- Adooji
- Adoon
- Adoor
- Adori
- Adoro
- Adou
- Adu
- Adua
- Adudu
- Adue
- Adugbe
- Adugh
- Adugu
- Adula
- Adulo
- Adum
- Adum East
- Adum West
- Adure
- Adyongo
- Adzege
- Adzegegbor
- Aekera
- Aemberga
- Aende
- Aer
- Aerakaa
- Aernan
- Aernen
- Aese
- Afaga
- Afanga
- Afanyo
- Afata
- Afati
- Afel
- Afera
- Afgha
- Afia
- Afokaa
- Afurangu
- Aga
- Agabi
- Agaga
- Agagbe
- Agaigbe
- Agaku
- Agal
- Agala
- Agamgbe
- Agan
- Agana
- Agana-Num
- Agano
- Aganyam
- Aganyi
- Aganzer
- Agara
- Agasha
- Agashi
- Agashua
- Agashwa
- Agav
- Agavure
- Agaym
- Agayo
- Agba
- Agbaa
- Agbadi
- Agbadu
- Agbadumo
- Agbahia
- Agbaki
- Agbakwa
- Agbalagba
- Agbalum
- Agbamu
- Agbande
- Agbanyi
- Agbara
- Agbata
- Agbatar
- Agbatso
- Agbawuan
- Agbaya
- Agbayongo
- Agbe
- Agbede
- Agbeede
- Agbeji
- Agbel
- Agbelgya
- Agbenda
- Agbende
- Agbenga
- Agber
- Agberga
- Agbeshiva
- Agbete
- Agbide
- Agbile
- Agbinda
- Agbira
- Agbire
- Agbo
- Agbodo
- Agbogbo
- Agboian
- Agboikyor
- Agboke
- Agboko
- Agbolagba
- Agbon
- Agbondom
- Agbonor
- Agboondu
- Agbor
- Agbul
- Agbum
- Age
- Ageda
- Agedagba
- Agee
- Agel
- Agela
- Agelaga
- Agema
- Agen
- Agen-Ako
- Agena
- Agendu
- Agenor
- Ager
- Agera
- Agernor
- Agerzur
- Agesho
- Ageva
- Agevashi
- Agher
- Agi
- Agia
- Agidi
- Agigbe
- Agiigbe
- Agila
- Agiligi
- Aginde
- Agine
- Agir
- Agira
- Agire
- Agirgbex
- Agirigi
- Agisha
- Agishi
- Agita
- Agite
- Ago
- Agogo
- Agoji
- Agom
- Agon
- Agondo
- Agoom
- Agor
- Agov
- Agoyo
- Agrigbe
- Agu
- Agudo
- Agudu
- Agudungu
- Agugbe
- Agugu
- Aguji
- Agula
- Agule
- Agum
- Agume
- Agundo
- Agundu
- Agundugba
- Agune
- Agungu
- Agur
- Agura
- Agusa
- Aguyi
- Agwabi
- Agwaku
- Agwata
- Agwu
- Agya

…and 5,545 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Benue State

Named natural and historic features inside Benue State, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

592 rivers and streams; 1 lake.

- Abagu
- Adeda Stream
- Adichombu
- Agbadi
- Agbu River
- Agbu River
- Agbudum
- Akaimo
- Akoko
- Akpeer
- Akpondope River
- Aku
- Akule
- Akuoguchan River
- Alemenyi
- Ambilo
- Amire
- Amire u Kiriki
- Amire-Kiriki
- Amishi
- Amu River
- Angamhag
- Ankya
- Antsowasam

…and 569 more.

### Hills and mountains

13 hills; 9 peaks; 2 mountains.

- Kyangenor · 961 m
- Vanande · 773 m
- Chembeukum · 753 m
- Tioukorogh · 667 m
- Kpaku · 650 m
- Ikuwe · 585 m
- Ngyen · 529 m
- Akovolwo · 511 m
- Dikpo Hill · 488 m
- Mkar Hill · 438 m
- Mkaar · 409 m
- Kyoekembe · 379 m
- Yariwa · 350 m
- Agira Hill · 242 m
- Anwogbor Hill · 229 m
- Akumetuu Hill · 222 m
- Abata Hill · 214 m
- Silagyi Hill · 187 m
- Agundu Hill · 176 m
- Ugyotso Hill · 168 m
- Udele Hill · 159 m
- Efugoto Hills · 143 m
- Ojagama Hills · 132 m
- Uviambe Hill · 127 m

### Forests and nature

14 forest reserves.

- Akpagher Forest Reserve
- Gboko Forest Reserve
- Gboko Forest Reserve
- Ihugh Forest Reserve
- Ikwe Forest Reserve
- Makurdi Forest Reserve
- Mbaafon Forest Reserve
- Mbahura Forest Reserve
- Mbakoso Forest Reserve
- Okoklo Forest Reserve
- Okpobi Forest Reserve
- Shamyough Forest Reserve
- Wanmune Forest Reserve
- Yandev Forest Reserve

### Getting around

2 railway stations; 1 airport.

- Makurdi Airport
- Otobi Station
- Udei Station

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Benue State and the best time to visit

In Benue State, the warmest month is Mar (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Dec (24 °C). About 1,229 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Sep (217 mm) and the driest Dec (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to April**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 24 5 

Feb 27 12 

Mar 28 35 

Apr 28 108 

May 27 142 

Jun 26 152 

Jul 25 170 

Aug 25 201 

Sep 25 217 

Oct 26 154 

Nov 26 32 

Dec 24 2 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Benue State

Places mapped inside Benue State in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals15
- Banks3
- Petrol pumps9
- Hotels42
- Shopping malls2
- Schools14
- Colleges and universities37
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants10
- Police stations7
- Dental clinics1

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Benue State?In Nigeria
- What is the population of Benue State?6,141,284 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Benue State?About 19 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Benue State?About 195 people per km²
- What borders Benue State?Cross River State, Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Kogi State, Nasarawa State and Taraba State
- What is there to see in Benue State?WURUKUM ROUND ABOUT
- What time zone is Benue State in?UTC+1
- What currency is used in Benue State?Naira (NGN)
- What language is spoken in Benue State?English, Hausa, Yoruba (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Benue State?5,945 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Benue State?Settlements lie between 50 m and 448 m
- What is the highest point in Benue State?Kyangenor (961 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Benue State?November to April
- How many hospitals are in Benue State?15 mapped
- How many banks are in Benue State?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Benue State?9 mapped
- What is the P-code of Benue State?NG007 (OCHA common operational dataset)