Sokoto Population 2026

Sokoto has a population of 1,040,000, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇳🇬 Nigeria, located in Sokoto. Roughly 0.4% of Nigeria's population lives here. It is about 15× smaller than Lagos, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

1,040,000

Rank in Nigeria

#12

Coordinates

13.06°N, 5.24°E

~296 m elevation · Africa/Lagos

Distance to capital (Abuja)

509 km

316 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Sokoto

City	Population	Rank in Nigeria
Tambuwal	20,932	#220
Gwadabawa	17,486	#238
Illela	17,461	#240

Cities near Sokoto

Gwadabawa17,486 people · ~33 km away
Illela17,461 people · ~75 km away
Argungu45,584 people · ~85 km away
Tambuwal20,932 people · ~98 km away
Gummi38,744 people · ~103 km away
Talata Mafara39,045 people · ~104 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Sokoto?

Sokoto has a population of 1,040,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in Nigeria.

What region is Sokoto in?

Sokoto is located in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Is Sokoto the capital of Nigeria?

No, the capital of Nigeria is Abuja, about 509 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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