17.9m Nigerians fall into poverty in three years – Report
An additional 17.9 million Nigerians fell into multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2024, marking the world's largest increase during this period, according to a new UN report.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Nigeria has seen a significant reversal in poverty reduction efforts, with 17.9 million more people becoming multidimensionally poor in three years, surpassing Afghanistan's increase. The 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, published by UNDP and OPHI, highlights worsening living conditions and challenges in meeting sustainable development goals.
Imagine poverty isn't just about not having enough money, but also not having good schools, doctors, clean water, or even enough food. A new report says that in Nigeria, a huge country in Africa, nearly 18 million more people have fallen into this kind of 'all-around' poverty in just three years. It's like a big game of snakes and ladders, and many people are sliding down the 'poverty snake' instead of climbing the 'progress ladder'.
Analysis
17.9 Million
The latest Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report reveals a stark deterioration in Nigeria's poverty landscape, with an additional 17.9 million people plunging into multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2024. This figure represents the largest absolute increase globally during the assessment period, significantly outpacing other nations like Afghanistan, which saw an increase of 5.3 million poor people.
This alarming rise reverses previous gains made between 2018 and 2021, indicating a severe setback for the country. The report highlights that Nigeria now accounts for the largest absolute deterioration in multidimensional poverty among countries with comparable data, raising serious concerns about the efficacy of current policies and the overall trajectory of living standards.
Multidimensional Poverty Index
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) offers a comprehensive measure of deprivation, extending beyond mere income or consumption levels. It assesses overlapping disadvantages across critical dimensions such as health, education, and living standards, including access to necessities like electricity, drinking water, sanitation, adequate housing, and nutrition.
According to the report, Nigeria's multidimensional poverty rate surged from 33.0 percent in 2021 to 38.7 percent in 2024, a 5.7 percentage point increase. This translates to an increase from 72.21 million to 90.07 million affected Nigerians over the period, with the country's MPI value rising from 0.175 to 0.208, signaling a worsening of overall deprivation.
Kebbi, Yobe and Sokoto
The report also provides a granular view of poverty within Nigeria, revealing substantial differences in the nature and severity of deprivation across states. Kebbi, Yobe, and Sokoto were identified among the states bearing the highest multidimensional poverty burdens, contrasting sharply with Lagos, which recorded the lowest MPI value.
This regional disparity underscores the need for tailored interventions. For instance, the report notes that deprivations in nutrition and child mortality contribute more significantly to poverty in Yobe, while in Sokoto, the lack of access to water and electricity are stronger drivers. Understanding these specific regional challenges is deemed essential for designing effective, community-specific interventions to combat poverty.
Key points
- An additional 17.9 million Nigerians fell into multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2024.
- Nigeria recorded the world's largest absolute increase in multidimensional poverty during this period, surpassing Afghanistan.
- The country's multidimensional poverty rate rose from 33.0% in 2021 to 38.7% in 2024.
- The Multidimensional Poverty Index measures deprivation beyond income, including access to education, healthcare, and basic living standards.
- Kebbi, Yobe, and Sokoto states have the highest poverty burdens, while Lagos has the lowest.
The report's emphasis on understanding regional differences in deprivation offers a pathway for more effective, tailored interventions. By identifying specific needs in states like Yobe and Sokoto, targeted programs could be developed to address critical deprivations, potentially leading to more efficient poverty reduction efforts.
The significant increase in multidimensional poverty, coupled with warnings from experts like Professor Pat Utomi about rising hunger, insecurity, and declining public confidence, suggests a potential for further social unrest and instability. This deterioration could severely hinder Nigeria's ability to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal of halving poverty by 2030.
