Rural Poverty in Nigeria Soars to 75.5%, World Bank Warns

A new report from the World Bank has exposed the depth of Nigeria’s poverty crisis, with 75.5% of rural dwellers now living below the poverty line. The figure, part of the Bank’s April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria, paints a stark picture of worsening inequality, economic stagnation, and the fragility of development across Africa’s most populous country.

The report reveals that poverty is not only widespread—it’s unevenly distributed. While 41.3% of Nigeria’s urban population lives in poverty, conditions in rural areas are significantly more dire. Inflation, insecurity, and underdevelopment have locked millions in cycles of deprivation.

“These numbers are not just statistics—they represent lives lived in chronic hardship,” the report notes. The Bank drew its data from the National Bureau of Statistics’ latest household surveys, highlighting that even before COVID-19, 30.9% of Nigerians were surviving on less than $2.15 per day.

Regional inequality is another flashpoint. The poverty rate in Nigeria’s northern zones stood at 46.5%, more than three times higher than the 13.5% recorded in the southern regions. The World Bank’s “Prosperity Gap” index—measuring how far off the average Nigerian is from earning a decent income—sits at a troubling 10.2, among the worst globally.

One of the most alarming findings concerns children. Nearly three in four Nigerians aged 0–14 live in poverty, a figure that signals long-term consequences for national development. Education remains a key differentiator. While 79.5% of Nigerians without any schooling are poor, the rate drops to 25.4% among those with tertiary education—underscoring the transformative power of access to quality education.

But access remains elusive for many. Around 17.6% of adults have not completed primary school, and 9% of households have at least one school-aged child not enrolled. Gender disparities are also evident: 63.9% of females and 63.1% of males live in poverty at the $3.65/day threshold, revealing structural issues that affect both sexes nearly equally.

Beyond income, the report also lays out multidimensional poverty indicators. Nearly half the population lacks access to basic sanitation, 39.4% live without electricity, and 32.6% are without improved drinking water.

The World Bank points to sluggish job creation and rising inflation as the twin engines of poverty, especially in urban centers where earnings fail to match the pace of rising prices. Although the Nigerian government has enacted reforms aimed at macroeconomic stability, the report stresses that without targeted interventions, the poorest will continue to suffer the most.

It recommends immediate actions focused on social protection, inflation mitigation, and economic diversification that creates real, productive jobs. “Protecting the vulnerable and expanding employment opportunities must be at the heart of any serious effort to tackle Nigeria’s poverty crisis,” the Bank concluded.

The bottom line: Nigeria’s fight against poverty is faltering. Unless decisive steps are taken, millions more could be pushed into destitution—especially in rural areas where hope is wearing thin.