Awka Population 2026

Awka has a population of 167,738, making it the #73 biggest city in 🇳🇬 Nigeria, located in Anambra. Roughly 0.1% of Nigeria's population lives here. It is about 92× smaller than Lagos, the country's biggest city.

Location of Awka (capital Abuja shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

167,738

Rank in Nigeria

#73

Coordinates

6.21°N, 7.07°E

~99 m elevation · Africa/Lagos

Distance to capital (Abuja)

320 km

199 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Anambra

City	Population	Rank in Nigeria
Onitsha	1,553,000	#8
Atani	230,000	#58
Nnewi	193,987	#67
Nkpor	103,733	#107
Ihiala	83,265	#129
Agulu	79,021	#137
Igbo-Ukwu	75,224	#142
Ozubulu	73,812	#145

Cities near Awka

Enugu-Ukwu68,785 people · ~9 km away
Agulu79,021 people · ~13 km away
Igbo-Ukwu75,224 people · ~22 km away
Nnewi193,987 people · ~27 km away
Nkpor103,733 people · ~28 km away
Uga64,179 people · ~31 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Awka?

Awka has a population of 167,738 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #73 biggest city in Nigeria.

What region is Awka in?

Awka is located in Anambra, Nigeria.

Is Awka the capital of Nigeria?

No, the capital of Nigeria is Abuja, about 320 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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