Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria
Nigeria: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 8.89 million people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
8.89 million people
World rank
51st
of 120 countries
All-time high
15.16 million people
in 2015
All-time low
4.25 million people
in 1985
Years of data
9
1985–2022
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria, 1985–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria is 8.89 million people, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria peaked at 15.16 million people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4.25 million people, in 1985.
Nigeria ranks 51st of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4.25 million people | — |
| 1992 | 5.98 million people | +40.8% |
| 1996 | 6.82 million people | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 6.33 million people | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 11.50 million people | +81.7% |
| 2012 | 12.56 million people | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 15.16 million people | +20.6% |
| 2018 | 13.97 million people | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 8.89 million people | -36.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 8.89 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.74 million people, 2.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 8.89 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.29 million people, 6.9× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.25 million people | 4.25 million people | 4.25 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.40 million people | 5.98 million people | 6.82 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.33 million people | 6.33 million people | 6.33 million people | 1 |
| 2010s | 13.30 million people | 11.50 million people | 15.16 million people | 4 |
| 2020s | 8.89 million people | 8.89 million people | 8.89 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More poverty & inequality data for Nigeria
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 4.48 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,558 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.607 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 7.17 (2007)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 7.2% (2007)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2007)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Nigeria was 8.89 million people in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 15.16 million people in 2015.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.25 million people in 1985.
- How does Nigeria rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Nigeria ranks 51st out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.