The Nigerian states of Sokoto and Taraba had the largest percentage of people living below the poverty line as of 2019. The lowest poverty rates were recorded in the South and South-Western states. In Lagos, this figure equaled 4.5 percent, the lowest rate in Nigeria.
A large population in poverty
In Nigeria, an individual is considered poor when they have an availability of less than 137.4 thousand Nigerian Naira (roughly 334 U.S. dollars) per year. Similarly, a person having under 87.8 thousand Naira (about 213 U.S. dollars) in a year available for food was living below the poverty line according to Nigerian national standards. In total, 40.1 percent of the population in Nigeria lived in poverty.
Food insecurity on the rise
On average, 21.4 percent of the population in Nigeria experienced hunger between 2018 and 2020. People in severe food insecurity would go for entire days without food due to lack of money or other resources. Over the last years, the prevalence with severe food among Nigerians has been increasing, as the demand for food is rising together with a fast-growing population.
Poverty headcount rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by state
Characteristic
Share of people in poverty
Sokoto
87.73%
Taraba
87.72%
Jigawa
87.02%
Ebonyi
79.76%
Adamawa
75.41%
Zamfara
73.98%
Yobe
72.34%
Niger
66.11%
Gombe
62.31%
Bauchi
61.53%
Enugu
58.13%
Nasarawa
57.3%
Katsina
56.42%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of people in poverty87.73%87.73%87.72%87.72%87.02%87.02%79.76%79.76%75.41%75.41%73.98%73.98%72.34%72.34%66.11%66.11%62.31%62.31%61.53%61.53%58.13%58.13%57.3%57.3%56.42%56.42%55.1%55.1%55.1%55.1%50.2%50.2%43.5%43.5%38.7%38.7%36.3%36.3%32.9%32.9%30.7%30.7%28.9%28.9%28.5%28.5%28%28%26.8%26.8%23.9%23.9%22.6%22.6%20.4%20.4%14.8%14.8%12.5%12.5%12%12%9.8%9.8%9.3%9.3%8.5%8.5%6%6%4.5%4.5%SokotoTarabaJigawaEbonyiAdamawaZamfaraYobeNigerGombeBauchiEnuguNasarawaKatsinaKanoPlateauKebbiKadunaFederal Capital TerritoryCross RiverBenueAbiaImoKogiEkitiAkwa IbomRiversBayelsaKwaraAnambraOndoEdoOyoOgunOsunDeltaLagos
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The source adds the following information: "The headcount ratio defines the proportion of population that is living in the households where the value of per capita total consumption expenditure is below or equal to the poverty line. The estimates exclude Borno state."
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NBS (Nigeria). (May 15, 2020). Poverty headcount rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by state [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/
NBS (Nigeria). "Poverty headcount rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by state." Chart. May 15, 2020. Statista. Accessed April 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/
NBS (Nigeria). (2020). Poverty headcount rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by state. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/
NBS (Nigeria). "Poverty Headcount Rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by State." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 May 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/
NBS (Nigeria), Poverty headcount rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by state Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/ (last visited April 12, 2025)
Poverty headcount rate in Nigeria as of 2019, by state [Graph], NBS (Nigeria), May 15, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121438/poverty-headcount-rate-in-nigeria-by-state/
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