A World Bank report has revealed that over 75% of rural Nigerians now live in poverty, underscoring the deepening hardship across the country.
The April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief paints a stark picture of rising inequality, with 41.3% of urban dwellers and a staggering 75.5% of rural residents living below the poverty line.
The report, based on data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, noted that 30.9% of Nigerians survive on less than \$2.15 per day.
It also highlighted Nigeria’s “prosperity gap,” showing that individual incomes must multiply over tenfold to reach a \$25 daily standard. The northern region faces higher poverty rates (46.5%) compared to the south (13.5%).
Children, especially those under 14, are among the most affected, with a poverty rate of 72.5%. Educational status strongly correlates with poverty, with 79.5% of those without formal education living in poverty.
The Bank urged urgent reforms to shield vulnerable populations from inflation and to stimulate job creation, warning that ongoing economic inequality threatens Nigeria’s development and stability.
