Which country has 36 states

Nigeria is the country with 36 states, making it Africa's most populous nation with a federal structure similar in principle to India's state system. Nigeria's 36 states, along with the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, were created through successive administrative reorganizations designed to accommodate the country's ethnic diversity and improve governance. Each Nigerian state has its own governor, legislature, and administrative structure, operating within a federal framework that balances state autonomy with central authority.

While this question asks about countries other than India, it's worth noting that several federal nations have similar state-based structures with varying numbers of constituent units. The United States has 50 states, Germany has 16 federal states (Länder), Brazil has 26 states plus a federal district, and Australia has 6 states and 2 territories. These federal systems, including India's 28-state structure, reflect a common governance approach where large, diverse nations distribute power between central and regional governments to balance national unity with regional autonomy. Understanding how different countries organize their federal structures provides valuable context for appreciating India's own administrative framework and the global variations in federal governance models.