Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. It has over 11 million residents Formed in 1976 from the former East Central State, the state is named after the Anam, one of its clans. Anambra is the abbreviation of Anam branch, a name the earliest British colonialists described the Omambala area with. The state capital is Awka, a rapidly growing city that increased in population from approximately 300,000 to 2.5 million between 2006 and 2018. The city of Onitsha, a historic port city from the pre-colonial era, remains an important centre of commerce within the state.

Nicknamed the "Light of the Nation", Anambra State is the eighth most populous state in the nation, although that has seriously been argued against as Onitsha, the state's biggest and most populous urban area was discovered to be over 8 million in population in 2019 by Africapolis which makes Onitsha the second largest urban area in Nigeria by population and third in Africa. Anambra is a very populous state, despite being the second smallest in area. The area currently known as Anambra State has been the site of numerous civilizations since at least the 9th century AD, including the ancient Kingdom of Nri, whose capital was the historic town of Igbo-Ukwu within the state. Residents of Anambra State are primarily Igbo, with the Igbo language serving as a lingua franca throughout the state.

During the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), Anambra State was part of the secessionist Republic of Biafra formed by Igbo nationalists. During the war, Anambra State was afflicted by a severe famine, which devastated much of the population. Today, Anambra State is a highly urbanized state, and has made major strides in reducing its poverty rate.