Lagos, with 83% Christians, tops Nigeria’s most Christian states

  • Lagos leads with 83% Christians.
  • The South-East and South-South dominate the top 15.
  • Christianity is strongest in southern Nigeria.
  • Ekiti and Ogun show moderate Christian presence in the South-West.
  • Plateau is the only northern state on the top 15 list.

Christianity’s roots in Nigeria run deepest in the South, a legacy of 19th-century missionary expansion along the coast and into the eastern hinterlands.

As of 2023, Lagos led with an estimated 83% Christian population, followed closely by South-East and South-South states where faith and culture have long intertwined. Ekiti and Ogun reflect Christianity’s moderate spread in the South-West, while Benue and Plateau—at 75% and 60%, respectively—stand out as northern outliers shaped by early missions and migration from the Middle Belt.

Together, these top 15 states capture how history, trade, and faith have shaped Nigeria’s religious landscape.

Source:

World Watch Research - Open Doors International

Period:

2023
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Related Insights

Less than 1 in 10 Nigerians identify outside Christianity or Islam
  • Christians and Muslims dominate the faiths in Nigeria, with almost 93% of the population identifying with either of these religions.
  • 106.6 million Nigerians identify as Christians, representing about 46.5% of the population.
  • 105.3 million are Muslims, making up 46% of the population.
  • 16.4 million people still follow ethnic or traditional religions, honouring ancestral spirits, deities, and sacred rituals that predate colonial times.
  • Other religions in Nigeria include Agnostics (592,000), Baha'is (57,600), Hindus (45,000), Buddhists (12,600), Jews (1,200) and Atheists (65,000).

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