Osun State
Osun is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Osogbo
- Population
- 5.2M
- Total area
- 8,574 km²
- LGAs
- 30
- House Reps (total)
- 9
- IGR (2024)
- ₦54.8B
- Capital
- Osogbo
- Population
- 5.2M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 8,574 km²
- LGAs
- 30
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦54.8B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (30)
30 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Osun in the federation
Osun is a state in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersEkiti, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1991
- Known as
- State of the Living Spring
- Population
- ~5,200,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna
- LGAs
- 30
- Distance to Abuja
- 343 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Osogbo · Ile-Ife · Ilesa
What to explore · learn
Osun's nickname refers to the Osun River and its sacred grove, one of the last intact sacred forests in Yorubaland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ile-Ife, in Osun State, is regarded in Yoruba oral tradition as the origin point of the Yoruba people and the seat of the Ooni of Ife.
Devotees honour the river goddess Osun at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in a festival lasting about two weeks that peaks in August.
Aug · annualOsogboIle-Ife's Olojo festival, centred on the Ooni of Ife and rites at Oke Mogun, lasts about four days in October.
Oct · annualIle-IfeThe Ifa divination system, with its Odu Ifa verse corpus interpreted by a Babalawo, is central to Yoruba spirituality and was inscribed by UNESCO in 2008.
Iwo and Ede are historic Oyo-Yoruba towns in Osun State, ruled by the Oluwo and the Timi respectively.
IwoEde
Cultural groups & homelands
Ife-Ijesa Cluster
10 LGAsThe historic Ife and Ijesa LGAs of eastern Osun State - Ife regarded in Yoruba tradition as the cradle of the Yoruba people, and Ilesa as the historic Ijesa kingdom capital.
Iwo-Ede-Ejigbo axis
5 LGAsOyo-Yoruba towns of north-western Osun State, including the seats of the Oluwo of Iwo, the Timi of Ede and the Olojigbo of Ejigbo.
Major celebrations
- Aug · annualOsogbo
- Oct · annualIle-Ife
Cultural institutions
Iwo and Ede are historic Oyo-Yoruba towns in Osun State, ruled by the Oluwo and the Timi respectively.
Iwo · Ede
Metro areas
Osogbo Metropolis
Osun State's capital cluster, home to the UNESCO-listed Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove on the city's edge.