Maiduguri Population 2026

Maiduguri has a population of 1,110,000, making it the #10 biggest city in 🇳🇬 Nigeria, located in Borno State. Roughly 0.5% of Nigeria's population lives here. It is about 14× smaller than Lagos, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

1,110,000

Rank in Nigeria

#10

Coordinates

11.85°N, 13.16°E

~325 m elevation · Africa/Lagos

Distance to capital (Abuja)

692 km

430 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Borno State

City	Population	Rank in Nigeria
Bama	118,121	#93
Biu	95,005	#113
Gamboru	84,672	#127
Dikwa	29,026	#188
Damboa	21,571	#215
Monguno	20,297	#222
Magumeri	19,363	#227
Kukawa	16,077	#252

Cities near Maiduguri

Magumeri19,363 people · ~47 km away
Bama118,121 people · ~68 km away
Dikwa29,026 people · ~85 km away
Damboa21,571 people · ~88 km away
Marte15,707 people · ~93 km away
Gwoza15,176 people · ~103 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Maiduguri?

Maiduguri has a population of 1,110,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #10 biggest city in Nigeria.

What region is Maiduguri in?

Maiduguri is located in Borno State, Nigeria.

Is Maiduguri the capital of Nigeria?

No, the capital of Nigeria is Abuja, about 692 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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