To determine the prevalence of urinary abnormalities in young adults living in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria.Two hundred and fifty (250) clean-catched mid-stream urine samples obtained between October 2005 and June 2006 from apparently healthy young adults, aged 18-25 years (mean = 19.7 +/- 4.1 years) resident in Abakaliki, comprising 151 (60.4%) females and 99 (39.6%) males were analysed using standard laboratory procedures and techniques.The prevalence of urinary abnormalities was found to be 20.7%. In addition to leucocyte esterase and pyuria, which were found in significantly more female samples than the males' (p < 0.05), there were generally more abnormalities in female urine samples than their male counterparts (p < 0.05). The major abnormalities recorded were pyuria (47.1%), bacteriuria (21.6%), proteinuria (14.0%) and haematuria (8.0%).The finding supports routine urine screening as an important disease surveillance approach in young adults Nigerians resident in Abakaliki metropolis.