Nigeria’s Poverty Crisis: 75.5% of Rural Population Lives Below Poverty Line

• The World Bank reports that 75.5% of rural Nigerians live below the poverty line, highlighting deepening economic hardship and inequality in the country’s hinterlands.

• The report notes significant regional disparities, with poverty rates higher in northern geopolitical zones (46.5%) compared to southern zones (13.5%).

The World Bank’s April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria paints a grim picture of worsening economic hardship and inequality across the country.

According to the report, a staggering 75.5% of rural Nigerians live below the poverty line, reflecting the deepening crisis in the nation’s hinterlands.

The report highlights significant regional disparities, with poverty rates in northern geopolitical zones standing at 46.5% compared to 13.5% in southern zones.

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Inequality measured by the Gini index was estimated at 35.1 in 2018/19, underscoring the persistent economic divide across the country.

The demographic analysis reveals that children, women, and those without formal education are disproportionately affected by poverty.

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“Nigeria’s Prosperity Gap — the average factor by which individuals’ incomes must be multiplied to attain a prosperity standard of $25 per day for all — is estimated at 10.2, higher than most peers,” the report states.

The World Bank calls for urgent policy action to shield vulnerable groups from inflationary shocks and drive job creation through more productive economic activities.

“Living standards of the urban poor are hardly improving, and jobs that would allow households to escape poverty are lacking,” the report notes.