Lafia Population 2026

Lafia has a population of 127,236, making it the #90 biggest city in 🇳🇬 Nigeria, located in Nasarawa State. Roughly 0.1% of Nigeria's population lives here. It is about 121× smaller than Lagos, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

127,236

Rank in Nigeria

#90

Coordinates

8.49°N, 8.52°E

~179 m elevation · Africa/Lagos

Distance to capital (Abuja)

128 km

79 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Nasarawa State

City	Population	Rank in Nigeria
Keffi	85,911	#125
Nasarawa	30,949	#186
Wamba	27,137	#191
Akwanga	15,985	#253
Doma	15,097	#267

Cities near Lafia

Doma15,097 people · ~21 km away
Akwanga15,985 people · ~48 km away
Wamba27,137 people · ~51 km away
Keffi85,911 people · ~81 km away
Makurdi390,000 people · ~85 km away
Nasarawa30,949 people · ~89 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Lafia?

Lafia has a population of 127,236 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #90 biggest city in Nigeria.

What region is Lafia in?

Lafia is located in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Is Lafia the capital of Nigeria?

No, the capital of Nigeria is Abuja, about 128 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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