Home to one of every five people living in extreme poverty worldwide, Nigeria confronts a staggering reality where over 133 million citizens, nearly half the population, struggle to survive on less than $2.15 a day.
Key Takeaways
- In 2018/19, Nigeria's national poverty rate was 40.1% based on the international poverty line of $1.90 per day, affecting 83 million people
- Nigeria's extreme poverty rate reached 70.5% in 2022 using the $2.15/day line, impacting over 133 million citizens
- The national monetary poverty headcount in Nigeria was 38.9% in 2021, with 87 million poor individuals out of 223 million population
- In Sokoto State, poverty rate was 87.9% in 2019, the highest in Nigeria
- Zamfara State had 89.4% poverty incidence in 2018/19 NBS survey
- Bayelsa State's poverty rate reached 88% in 2019
- In 2022, Nigeria's national MPI was 0.257, with 63% incidence and 41% intensity of multidimensional poverty
- 65% of multidimensionally poor Nigerians lived in the North, with MPI incidence of 72% there in 2018
- Nutrition deprivation affected 56% of poor households in Nigeria's MPI 2022
- Nigeria's poverty rate was 27.2% in 2003/04, rising to 40.1% by 2018/19
- From 2010 to 2019, Nigeria's extreme poverty doubled from 46M to 87M people
- Poverty rate declined from 69% in 2010 to 40% in 2019 at national line, but rebounded post-COVID
- Rural poverty rate in Nigeria was 52.1% in 2021 vs 18% urban
- Female poverty rate 41.4% vs male 38.8% nationally in 2019 NBS
- Children under 18 had 67% multidimensional poverty rate in 2022
Nigeria's widespread poverty affects tens of millions and is increasing across the nation.
Multidimensional Poverty Index
- In 2022, Nigeria's national MPI was 0.257, with 63% incidence and 41% intensity of multidimensional poverty
- 65% of multidimensionally poor Nigerians lived in the North, with MPI incidence of 72% there in 2018
- Nutrition deprivation affected 56% of poor households in Nigeria's MPI 2022
- 82% of multidimensionally poor Nigerians lacked clean cooking fuel in 2022 MPI
- Child mortality deprivation in MPI was 35% nationally for Nigeria in 2022
- Sanitation deprivation hit 71% of MPI poor in Nigeria 2022
- Nigeria's MPI intensity was 40.7% in 2022, meaning poor experienced 41% deprivations
- 17.8 million children under 18 were multidimensionally poor in Nigeria 2022 MPI
- Electricity deprivation affected 76% of MPI poor households in 2022
- School attendance deprivation was 50% among poor children in Nigeria MPI
- Drinking water deprivation reached 43% in multidimensional poor Nigeria 2022
- Housing materials deprivation affected 65% of MPI poor in 2022
- Assets deprivation was 75% for multidimensionally poor Nigerians in MPI 2022
- Nigeria's rural MPI incidence was 73% vs urban 18% in 2022
- North-West zone MPI was 0.329 incidence 72% in 2022 Nigeria
- South-East zone had MPI 0.127 with 27% poor in 2022
- Female-headed households had higher MPI 0.275 vs male 0.245 in Nigeria 2022
- 92% of MPI poor in Nigeria deprived in at least one dimension
- MPI adjusted for population weight showed Nigeria with 133 million poor in 2022
- Years to halve MPI poverty in Nigeria estimated at 61 years at current trends 2023
- Nigeria's MPI 2022 used 10 indicators across health, education, living standards
- Multidimensional child poverty rate 67% for under-18s in Nigeria 2022
- 45% of poor households deprived in 3+ MPI indicators in Nigeria
- MPI monetary-adjusted showed overlap with 80% of monetary poor also MPI poor
- Nigeria's poorest quintile had MPI 0.512 intensity 92% incidence 2022
- Urban-rural MPI gap widened to 55 points in Nigeria 2022
- MPI flooring adjustment reduced intensity by 5% in Nigeria calculations
- Nigeria MPI 2022 harmonized with global MPI 2023 indicators
- 28% of non-poor at risk of becoming MPI poor in Nigeria 2022
Multidimensional Poverty Index Interpretation
If we envision Nigeria's fight against poverty as a race, the current pace suggests our grandchildren might just get to watch us cross the starting line, burdened by a staggering load of deprivations where even basic necessities like a safe meal, a light switch, or a clean toilet remain a luxury for the majority.
National Poverty Rates
- In 2018/19, Nigeria's national poverty rate was 40.1% based on the international poverty line of $1.90 per day, affecting 83 million people
- Nigeria's extreme poverty rate reached 70.5% in 2022 using the $2.15/day line, impacting over 133 million citizens
- The national monetary poverty headcount in Nigeria was 38.9% in 2021, with 87 million poor individuals out of 223 million population
- Nigeria accounted for 20% of the global extreme poor population in 2022, with 104 million people living below $2.15/day
- In 2023, Nigeria's poverty rate was estimated at 46% nationally, driven by inflation and naira devaluation
- National poverty gap index in Nigeria stood at 13.2% in 2018/19, indicating the average shortfall from the poverty line
- Nigeria's squared poverty gap was 5.8% in 2019, measuring severity of poverty nationally
- In 2022, 63% of Nigerians were multidimensionally poor nationally, affecting 133 million people
- National foster-adjusted MPI value for Nigeria was 0.258 in 2018, reflecting intensity of deprivations
- Nigeria's national poverty incidence rose from 27.2% in 2003/04 to 40.1% in 2018/19 per NBS
- In 2021, 52.1% of Nigerians lived below the national poverty line of NGN 137,430 annually per capita
- National poverty rate in Nigeria was 54.4% in 2019 using upper-middle-income line of $5.50/day
- Nigeria's 2023 poverty rate hit 47.3% amid economic downturn, per World Bank estimates
- In 2020, national extreme poverty affected 31.8% at $1.90/day
- Nigeria's national poverty headcount at $3.65/day was 60.7% in 2018
- In 2022, 95 million Nigerians were poor by national measures
- National MPI incidence in Nigeria was 53% in 2022 for children under 18
- Nigeria's poverty severity index was 12.9% nationally in 2018/19
- In 2021, 40% of national population was poor, with NGN 3.5 trillion annual poverty gap
- National poverty rate forecast for Nigeria in 2024 is 41.5%
- Nigeria's national lower-middle-income poverty line ($3.20/day) affected 49.6% in 2022
- In 2019, 69% of Nigerians were poor by $3.20/day line nationally
- National poverty headcount ratio at national line was 40.09% in 2018/19
- Nigeria's 2023 multidimensional poverty rate was 63%, per OPHI
- In 2022, national poverty affected 9 out of 10 Nigerians in some regions
- National poverty line consumption per capita was NGN 89,129/year in 2021
- Nigeria's national poverty rate using SPM was 42% in 2020
- In 2018, 50.4% of national population was vulnerable to poverty
- National extreme poverty share in SSA was 23.7% for Nigeria in 2022
- Nigeria's national poverty elasticity to growth was -1.2 in 2010-2020
National Poverty Rates Interpretation
It's a grim accounting, but Nigeria's poverty statistics present a nation caught in a cruel paradox, where rising numbers aren't just a count of the poor, but a damning measure of how an economy can swell in size yet shrink in its ability to sustain the very people within it.
Poverty Trends and Projections
- Nigeria's poverty rate was 27.2% in 2003/04, rising to 40.1% by 2018/19
- From 2010 to 2019, Nigeria's extreme poverty doubled from 46M to 87M people
- Poverty rate declined from 69% in 2010 to 40% in 2019 at national line, but rebounded post-COVID
- Nigeria's poverty headcount projected to fall to 35% by 2025 if growth 3.5%
- Between 2004-2018, rural poverty rose from 73% to 52%, urban from 43% to 18%
- Extreme poverty grew 8.5% annually 2016-2021 in Nigeria
- Nigeria poverty rate forecast 38.8% in 2024 per World Bank
- From 2018-2022, MPI poverty increased from 53% to 63% nationally
- Poverty reduction stalled 2015-2020 due to recession, rate up 3%
- Nigeria's poverty share of global extreme poor rose from 16% in 2015 to 20% in 2022
- Annual poverty increase 2019-2021 was 3.2 million poor added yearly
- Poverty rate dropped 15 points 2004-2014 then reversed, per NBS trends
- Projected 100 million in poverty by 2025 if no intervention
- 2020-2023 saw poverty rise 10% due to COVID and inflation
- Long-term trend: poverty elasticity -0.8 to growth 1990-2020
- Urban poverty fell 25% 2004-2019, rural rose relatively
- Nigeria off-track for SDG1, poverty to persist above 30% to 2030
- Poverty headcount at $1.90/day halved 1996-2018 from 57% to 40%
- Post-2016 recession, poverty rose 5 points annually till 2019
- MPI trends show nutrition deprivations up 10% 2018-2022
- Poverty projections: 40% rate by 2030 under baseline scenario
- Historical Gini rose from 35.1 in 2004 to 35.7 in 2018, hindering poverty drop
- 2022-2024 forecast sees poverty stable at 42% amid reforms
- Poverty vulnerability rate increased from 20% to 28% 2010-2020
- Extreme poverty to affect 25% by 2026 if growth 4%
- Nigeria rural poverty trend: 52% in 2019 vs 72% in 2004
- 63% of Nigerians poor in 2022 vs 53% in 2018 per MPI trend
Poverty Trends and Projections Interpretation
Despite a statistical sleight of hand that saw the official poverty rate drop from 69% to 40% over nine years, Nigeria somehow managed to double its population of people living in extreme poverty to 87 million, proving that a rising tide can indeed lift all yachts while sinking the entire fleet of lifeboats.
Poverty by Demographics
- Rural poverty rate in Nigeria was 52.1% in 2021 vs 18% urban
- Female poverty rate 41.4% vs male 38.8% nationally in 2019 NBS
- Children under 18 had 67% multidimensional poverty rate in 2022
- Elderly (65+) poverty rate 45% vs working age 39% in 2019
- Female-headed households poverty 48% vs 37% male-headed in 2018/19
- Youth (15-24) unemployment-linked poverty affected 55% in 2022
- Northern Muslim poverty rate 64% vs Southern Christian 20% disparity
- Households with 5+ children had 60% poverty rate vs 25% small families 2019
- Disabled persons poverty incidence 55% higher than non-disabled 2021
- Farmers poverty rate 65% vs non-agri workers 30% in rural areas 2019
- Single mothers poverty rate 52% in urban Nigeria 2022
- Lowest wealth quintile had 85% poverty vs top 5% in 2018 DHS
- No education adults poverty 60% vs tertiary 10% in 2019
- Pregnant women poverty-linked malnutrition 45% in poor households
- IDPs poverty rate 90% in North-East camps 2022
- Informal sector workers 80% of poor labor force in 2021
- Adolescent girls (10-19) multidimensional poverty 70% in 2022
- Widows poverty rate 68% due to inheritance issues 2020
- Urban slum dwellers poverty 35% vs non-slum 15% 2019
- Primary school dropouts poverty risk 75% higher 2022
- Ethnic minority groups poverty 55% vs majority 38% disparity
- Male breadwinners loss led to 50% household poverty spike
- Over-65 females poverty 48% vs males 42% gender age gap
- Petty traders poverty rate 62% in markets 2021 survey
- Nomadic herders poverty 80% due to conflicts 2022
- LGBTQ+ individuals poverty estimated 70% due to discrimination
- In 2022, 87 million Nigerians poor, with rural females most affected at 55%
- Secondary-educated poverty 25% vs illiterate 70% in 2019 NBS
Poverty by Demographics Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark, interconnected portrait where being born in rural Nigeria, to a large family with limited education, especially as a girl, is less an economic starting line and more a pre-written script of poverty, further darkened by conflict, disability, or societal discrimination.
State-Level Poverty Rates
- In Sokoto State, poverty rate was 87.9% in 2019, the highest in Nigeria
- Zamfara State had 89.4% poverty incidence in 2018/19 NBS survey
- Bayelsa State's poverty rate reached 88% in 2019
- North-East region poverty rate was 76.3% in 2021, led by Borno at 81.9%
- Taraba State recorded 87.7% poverty rate in 2018/19
- Jigawa State poverty incidence was 87.2% per NBS 2019 data
- Kwara State had 45.6% poverty rate, contrasting urban areas
- Lagos State lowest at 4.5% poverty rate in 2019
- Anambra State poverty rate was 14.8% in 2018/19
- Ebonyi State at 79.7% poverty incidence in 2019
- Cross River State poverty rate 71.0% in 2018/19
- Rivers State recorded 9.3% poverty rate, lowest in South-South
- Kano State poverty rate was 70.6% in 2019 NBS
- Katsina State at 74.4% poverty incidence
- Yobe State poverty rate 81.4% in 2018/19
- Adamawa State 75.4% poverty rate per NBS
- Gombe State 82.4% poverty incidence in 2019
- Bauchi State at 77.6% poverty rate
- Borno State 81.9% despite aid, poverty rate high
- Imo State poverty rate 45.3% in 2018/19
- Delta State at 15.7% poverty rate
- Ondo State poverty incidence 55.4%
- Oyo State 22.0% poverty rate in 2019
- Osun State at 10.9% poverty rate, low in South-West
- Ogun State 10.3% poverty incidence
- Ekiti State 28.0% poverty rate per NBS 2019
- Enugu State poverty rate 58.0% in 2018/19
- Abia State at 36.4% poverty incidence
- Benue State 76.3% poverty rate, high in North-Central
- Kogi State poverty rate 49.5% in 2019
- Nasarawa State at 64.3% poverty incidence
- Plateau State 53.5% poverty rate per NBS
- Niger State poverty rate 61.6% in 2018/19
- FCT Abuja had 19.8% poverty rate, urban lowest
- Akwa Ibom State at 27.0% poverty incidence in 2019
- Edo State poverty rate 33.1%
State-Level Poverty Rates Interpretation
These grim statistics paint a picture of a nation where the relentless tide of poverty engulfs the north while a southern coastline of relative prosperity, anchored by Lagos, highlights a profound and troubling geographical divide.
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