Yola Population 2026

Yola has a population of 460,000, making it the #32 biggest city in 🇳🇬 Nigeria, located in Adamawa. Roughly 0.2% of Nigeria's population lives here. It is about 33× smaller than Lagos, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

460,000

Rank in Nigeria

#32

Coordinates

9.21°N, 12.48°E

~180 m elevation · Africa/Lagos

Distance to capital (Abuja)

548 km

340 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Adamawa

City	Population	Rank in Nigeria
Jimeta	248,148	#57
Mubi	225,705	#61
Numan	77,617	#139
Gombi	19,616	#226
Ganye	15,178	#264

Cities near Yola

Jimeta248,148 people · ~8 km away
Numan77,617 people · ~57 km away
Ganye15,178 people · ~98 km away
Gombi19,616 people · ~110 km away
Jalingo117,757 people · ~128 km away
Mubi225,705 people · ~146 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Yola?

Yola has a population of 460,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #32 biggest city in Nigeria.

What region is Yola in?

Yola is located in Adamawa, Nigeria.

Is Yola the capital of Nigeria?

No, the capital of Nigeria is Abuja, about 548 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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