Nigeria vs World: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line

Nigeria
41.8%
in 2022
World
24.9%
in 2024
Nigeria rank
11th
World rank
8th

Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line over time

  • Nigeria
  • World
0204060198420042024

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 41.8% against 24.9% in World, a difference of 16.9%.

That makes Nigeria's figure about 1.7 times World's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 9 shared years of data; in 1985 it was World ahead.

Nigeria ranks 11th and World ranks 8th of 123 countries.

Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Nigeria World Difference Ahead
1980s 51.1% 51.1% 0.0%
1990s 58.0% 46.8% 11.3% Nigeria
2000s 51.1% 38.8% 12.3% Nigeria
2010s 39.9% 29.2% 10.6% Nigeria
2020s 41.8% 25.5% 16.3% Nigeria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line, Nigeria or World?
Nigeria, at 41.8% against 24.9% in World as of 2022.
What is the difference in poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line between Nigeria and World?
16.9%, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and World?
9 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2022.
How do Nigeria and World rank globally for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
Nigeria ranks 11th and World ranks 8th of 123 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs World: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/compare/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-societal-poverty-line-percent-of-population/nigeria/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
137 places, 2,860 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.