10 Nigerian States Leading Internet Subscriptions in 2025

In 2025, Nigeria’s internet story isn’t just about the number of people online. It’s about where they are and what that says about the country’s digital future.

According to new data from the National Bureau of Statistics, using figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigeria had 147.74 million active internet subscriptions across all 36 states and the FCT in 2025. This is a 6.29% increase from 138.99 million in 2024. While the total is impressive, the way these subscriptions are spread out tells a more complex story.

Just 10 states account for 76.41 million of those subscriptions, representing 51.72% of the national total. In other words, more than half of Nigeria’s internet activity is concentrated in roughly a quarter of its states. The remaining 27 states and the FCT collectively share less than half the pie.

Mobile operators remain the backbone of Nigeria’s connectivity. GSM subscriptions accounted for 147.40 million out of the total 147.74 million, representing 99.77%. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services make up a negligible fraction of the total. Nigeria’s internet access story is, for now, almost entirely a mobile story.

There is some good news: states just outside the top ten are growing faster in percentage terms than the leaders, which shows the digital economy is spreading, even if the gap is still wide. The top ten states saw their combined subscriptions grow by 10.28% from 69.28 million in 2024 to 76.41 million in 2025, beating the national average of 6.29%. This means the biggest states are not just ahead, they are moving even further ahead.

The 10 States That Dominate Nigeria’s Internet Landscape

No. 10: Anambra — 4.44 Million Subscriptions

Anambra grew its active subscription base by 13.50% in 2025, up from 3.91 million in 2024. MTN leads the state with 2.82 million subscribers, followed by Airtel at 1.32 million. Glo holds 277,315 subscriptions while EMTS accounts for just 6,294.

The state’s long-standing reputation as a commercial and entrepreneurial hub in southeastern Nigeria continues to translate into digital activity. The dense network of small and medium businesses in and around Onitsha and Awka, alongside high mobile phone penetration, keeps Anambra punching above its weight in internet adoption relative to its population size.

No. 9: Edo — 4.86 Million Subscriptions

Edo recorded the fastest growth rate among the top 10 states in 2025, with subscriptions jumping 36.48% year-on-year from 3.56 million in 2024. MTN leads with 2.47 million subscribers, Airtel holds 1.27 million, and Glo adds 1.10 million. EMTS accounts for 6,338 subscriptions.

That growth rate is remarkable. A 36% jump in one year suggests faster network expansion, more affordable smartphones, and greater use of digital services by Edo’s young people. Benin City’s growing importance as a centre for youth and education is also likely helping, as more people use e-learning, fintech, and digital entertainment platforms.

No. 8: Rivers — 5.31 Million Subscriptions

Rivers State, where Port Harcourt is located, remains one of Nigeria’s most connected states because it is the commercial hub of the Niger Delta oil industry. High-income energy workers, many professionals, and growing logistics and service industries all keep demand for reliable internet high.

No. 7: Delta — 5.56 Million Subscriptions

Delta is just ahead of Rivers, with 5.56 million active subscriptions. Like other Niger Delta states, Delta benefits from oil industry jobs, busy commercial centres in Warri and Asaba, and a population with higher average incomes than much of rural northern and southeastern Nigeria.

No. 6: Kaduna — 6.49 Million Subscriptions

Kaduna’s position in the top six reflects how northern Nigeria’s interest in digital services is growing. As the most active economy in the northwest after Kano, Kaduna has seen steady investment in 4G networks and a young population increasingly using mobile internet.

No. 5: FCT Abuja — 6.51 Million Subscriptions

The Federal Capital Territory edges out Kaduna with 6.51 million subscriptions. Given that Abuja has a fraction of the population of most other states in this ranking, its per-capita internet subscription rate is almost certainly the highest in the country. The concentration of government workers, diplomats, tech startups, international NGOs, and high-income residents means demand for fast, reliable connectivity is consistently strong. Abuja also benefits from more stable and higher-quality infrastructure investment than most Nigerian cities.

No. 4: Oyo — 6.60 Million Subscriptions

Oyo, whose capital is Ibadan, is Nigeria’s most populous state and the entry point to the southwest. The state’s large student population, attracted by schools like the University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, keeps demand for internet access high and growing. Ibadan is also becoming a popular choice for tech companies and remote workers who can’t afford Lagos, further fueling its digital growth.

No. 3: Ogun — 8.88 Million Subscriptions

Ogun’s third-place ranking is due to both its location and its economy. The state borders Lagos and is now one of the fastest-growing industrial and residential areas in West Africa. Many Ogun residents commute to Lagos for work but live in towns like Sagamu, Abeokuta, and Ijebu-Ode. Many have subscriptions linked to Lagos network towers, and the spread of 4G along major roads has made Ogun much better connected.

The state also has many factories and logistics warehouses, and their workers and managers add significantly to the number of subscriptions.

No. 2: Kano — 9.17 Million Subscriptions

Kano is the business centre of northern Nigeria, the country’s second-most populous state, and the most digitally connected state in the north. Its 9.17 million subscriptions reflect the city’s strong trading culture, the growing number of young people using social media and mobile money, and greater 4G coverage in the city and nearby areas.

Kano’s second-place ranking is important for anyone watching Nigeria’s digital economy. It shows that internet use in the north is not just a small trend; it is becoming a major market that telecoms, fintechs, and digital service providers need to pay attention to.

No. 1: Lagos — 18.60 Million Subscriptions

Lagos stands alone at the top. With 18.60 million active internet subscriptions, it has more than twice as many as Kano, the next closest state. About one in every eight internet subscriptions in Nigeria is in Lagos.

These numbers show Lagos’s unique role as Nigeria’s economic engine, financial centre, tech hub, and most crowded city. Businesses in Lagos rely much more on the internet than businesses in other states. The fintech sector alone, based in Yaba and Lagos Island, has millions of daily users for payments, loans, investments, and digital banking.

Lagos is also where the network infrastructure is. Lagos also has the most developed network infrastructure. Fibre networks are still not enough for a city this size, but they are more advanced here than anywhere else in Nigeria. Because of strong demand and better supply, Lagos is likely to stay at the top for a long time. Effectiveness Gap

The concentration of internet subscriptions is not just about regional inequality. It also limits economic growth. Many states in the north-central and northeast, which have large populations and lots of resources, are underrepresented in this data. Fewer subscriptions in these areas mean less access to digital financial services, online shopping, remote education, and other digital activities that help economies grow over time.

There are reasons to be hopeful. The total number of subscriptions has grown every year. States just outside the top ten are catching up faster in percentage terms. Telecom companies are also expanding 4G into areas that did not have good coverage before, thanks to both competition and new rules.

But the main challenge remains. Building more infrastructure alone will not close the connectivity gap. Affordable smartphones, lower data costs, reliable electricity, and digital skills are all needed together. If progress happens in only one area, the gains are often not lasting.

The 2025 data shows that Nigeria’s digital economy is getting bigger. But it does not yet show that everyone is benefiting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nigerian state has the most internet subscriptions in 2025?

Lagos leads all 36 states and the FCT with 18.60 million active internet subscriptions as of 2025. This is more than double Kano’s subscription base, which ranks second at 9.17 million.

How many total internet subscriptions does Nigeria have in 2025?

Nigeria recorded 147.74 million active internet subscriptions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of 2025, according to NBS data sourced from the NCC. This is a 6.29% increase from 138.99 million in 2024.

What percentage of Nigeria’s internet subscriptions are in the top 10 states?

The top 10 states account for 76.41 million subscriptions, representing 51.72% of Nigeria’s national total. This means that just 10 states account for more than half of the country’s internet activity.

Which state had the fastest internet subscription growth in 2025?

Edo State recorded the fastest year-on-year growth among the top 10, with subscriptions rising 36.48% from 3.56 million in 2024 to 4.86 million in 2025.

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