Updated Feb 18, 2026
KEY STATS
1.6M
Population
36 km2
Area
48 Mbps
Internet
65m
Elevation
UTC+01:00
Timezone
ABB (15km)
Airport
OVERVIEW
Onitsha's massive riverside market dominates the Niger, a frenetic hive of traders haggling over electronics and fabrics under relentless tropical sun. Remote workers might embrace the entrepreneurial buzz and growing 4G coverage, but power outages test true adaptability.
QUICK FACTS
Country
Nigeria
Region
Western Africa
Population
1.6M
Timezone
UTC+01:00
Elevation
65 m
Currency
NGN
Language
English
Airport
ABB
GPS
6.15, 6.79
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Tech
Internet at 48 Mbps — plan for offline work or find coworking spaces
Climate
Year-round average of 28C — near-ideal temperatures
A major city with a population of 1,553,000
INFRASTRUCTURE
88 total POIs 2.4 per km²
Above avg per capita
Average
Below avg
Food & Drink
Restaurants
1
Cafes
4
Bars
6
Shopping
Supermarkets
1
Shopping Malls
3
Healthcare
Hospitals
1
Clinics
4
Pharmacies
2
Education
Schools
2
Universities
1
Recreation
Parks
12
Playgrounds
10
Sports
2
Transport
Bus Stops
2
Fuel Stations
25
Services
Banks
4
Post Offices
2
Police
2
Fire Stations
1
Source: DropThe Database | dropthe.org
INTERNET SPEED
48 Mbps
Download
17 Mbps
Upload
39ms
Latency
1,006
Tests
222
Devices
2025-Q4
Last updated
CLIMATE
Best time to visit: Apr - Oct
29°
J
29°
F
29°
M
28°
A
27°
M
26°
J
26°
J
26°
A
27°
S
28°
O
29°
N
29°
D
18-28 C ideal
Warm/Cool
Extreme
Year avg: 27.7 C Range: 29.4 - 25.9 C Rain: 1,024 mm/year Sunshine: 3,124 h/year
CITY SCORES
90.4
Nomad Index
A
Livability
37.5
Culture
62.7
Overall
AIRPORT
ABB
Asaba International Airport
15 km from center
~27 min ride
FUN FACTS
Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí or simply Ọ̀nị̀chà) is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria.
Onitsha along with various cities and towns in southern Anambra State, northern Imo State and neighboring Delta State on the western bank of the Niger River, form a continuous metropolitan area.
As of 2016, the greater Onitsha area had an estimated population of around eight million people in central and southern Anambra state extending into neighboring Delta state to the west and Imo state to the south.
Spread across parts of these three states, the greater Onitsha area is regarded as one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria by both population and landmass.
The continuous urban sprawl or conurbation of greater Onitsha spreads across several separate cities and their satellite towns and suburbs including Asaba, Obosi, Ogidi, Oba, Ogbaru, Nnewi, the Anambra State capital Awka down to Orlu in Imo State.
EXTERNAL LINKS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Onitsha known for?
Onitsha's massive riverside market dominates the Niger, a frenetic hive of traders haggling over electronics and fabrics under relentless tropical sun. Remote workers might embrace the entrepreneurial buzz and growing 4G coverage, but power outages test true adaptability.
How fast is the internet in Onitsha?
Onitsha has an average download speed of 48 Mbps and upload speed of 17 Mbps, based on Ookla speed test data.
What is the weather like in Onitsha?
Onitsha has an average year-round temperature of approximately 27.7 degrees Celsius.
What airport serves Onitsha?
Onitsha is served by ABB (Asaba International Airport), approximately 15 km from the city center.
What is the population of Onitsha?
The population of Onitsha is approximately 1.6M.
What infrastructure does Onitsha have?
Onitsha has 88 mapped points of interest, including 1 restaurants, 1 hospitals, 2 schools.
What country is Onitsha in?
Onitsha is located in Nigeria.