Where Do the Most Nigerian Americans Live?
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Nigerian Americans are one of the newer arrivals in this series, and one of the fastest growing. About 720,879 people in the United States report Nigerian ancestry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Most trace their roots to migration that began in earnest in the 1980s and accelerated through the 2000s, which makes this a young, still-expanding population compared with older ancestry groups. It is also one of the most highly educated immigrant populations in the country, with a strong concentration in medicine, engineering, nursing, and academic work.
Largest Nigerian populations by metro area
| Rank | Metro area | Nigerian residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | 74,975 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | 68,923 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | 50,098 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | 47,529 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | 45,824 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | 32,145 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | 30,590 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | 21,723 |
Largest Nigerian populations by city
| Rank | City | Nigerian residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | 37,123 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | 24,709 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | 13,571 |
| 4 | Indianapolis city, IN | 11,300 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | 8,177 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | 7,473 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | 7,100 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | 7,012 |
A handful of large metros in Texas, the mid-Atlantic, and the Southeast hold most of the population, and the growth has clustered in suburban counties rather than dispersing evenly across the map.
Texas leads every state
Texas is home to 141,307 people of Nigerian ancestry, far ahead of any other state and roughly double the next one on the list. The pull is concentrated in two metros. The Houston metro counts 68,923 residents, and the Dallas metro adds another 50,098. Houston in particular has become a center of Nigerian American professional and religious life, with large church congregations and a dense network of small businesses. Within the city limits, Houston counts 24,709 residents, second only to New York among cities, and Dallas adds 7,473 more.
After Texas comes the Washington, DC and Maryland corridor. Maryland ranks second among states at 68,523, and the Washington metro holds 47,529 people of Nigerian ancestry. Prince George's County and its neighbors have drawn a large share of Nigerian American physicians, nurses, and federal workers, and the suburban Maryland side of the region carries most of that weight.
New York is the largest single metro
Even though Texas leads the states, the single largest metro is the New York area, with 74,975 residents of Nigerian ancestry. Much of that population sits in the outer boroughs and across the Hudson in New Jersey. The city of New York alone counts 37,123 people, the most of any city in the country, and nearby Newark adds 7,100. That helps push New Jersey to 36,144 statewide and keeps New York at 53,658.
Atlanta, Chicago, and the rest of the map
The Atlanta metro holds 45,824 people of Nigerian ancestry, and Georgia ranks fifth among states at 50,877. Atlanta's growth mirrors the broader movement of Black professional households into the metro over the past two decades, and Nigerian American families have been part of that shift.
The Chicago metro counts 32,145, with 13,571 inside the city of Chicago itself. The Baltimore metro adds 30,590, reinforcing Maryland's strong second-place standing, and the Los Angeles metro holds 21,723. California ranks third among states at 60,427, with 8,177 people inside the city of Los Angeles.
A few cities stand out for their size relative to their metros. Indianapolis counts 11,300 residents of Nigerian ancestry, more than either Dallas or Los Angeles at the city level, a reminder that this population has put down roots well beyond the coastal and Texas hubs. Philadelphia rounds out the city list with 7,012.
What the numbers show
Nigerian Americans concentrate in a small set of metros: New York, Houston, Dallas, Washington, and Atlanta. Those metros anchor the leading states of Texas, Maryland, California, New York, and Georgia. The population skews suburban, professional, and clustered near major hospital systems, universities, and federal employment. For a group of about 720,879 people, that geographic concentration is striking, and it reflects how recent, education-driven migration tends to reinforce a handful of established gateways.
You can see the full picture on the ranking pages for the largest Nigerian population metros, the largest Nigerian population cities, and the largest Nigerian population states. To line up two places side by side, use the compare tool and check how any metro, city, or state stacks up.
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, people of Nigerian ancestry. See also the largest Nigerian population metros, largest Nigerian population cities, and largest Nigerian population states ranking pages.
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How many Nigerian Americans are there in the United States?
About 720,879 people report Nigerian ancestry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. It is one of the newer and faster-growing groups in this series.
Which state has the most Nigerian Americans?
Texas leads with 141,307 people of Nigerian ancestry, roughly double the next state. Maryland follows at 68,523, then California at 60,427, New York at 53,658, and Georgia at 50,877.
Which metro area has the largest Nigerian American population?
The New York metro is the largest at 74,975, followed by Houston (68,923), Dallas (50,098), Washington (47,529), and Atlanta (45,824).
