Nigeria holds 118 of 122 Cinemas in English speaking West Africa

Nigeria dominates cinema infrastructure in English-speaking West Africa, accounting for 118 out of the region’s 122 cinemas as of 2025 according to a new data breakdown by FilmOne.

The breakdown shows Nigeria far ahead with 118 cinemas, while Ghana has just three and Liberia only one, bringing the total to 122 across the region.

According to FilmOne, without Nigeria, English-speaking West Africa would be left with only four cinemas in total, highlighting how dependent the region’s cinema ecosystem is on Nigeria.

This adds context to the recent public exchange between filmmakers Kunle Afolayan and Funke Akindele over how Nigerian cinemas operate and what kinds of films they prioritise.

With Nigeria hosting 118 of the 122 cinemas in the entire region, the country effectively carries the theatrical film culture of West Africa on its shoulders.