Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria
Nigeria: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 41.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria, 1985–2022
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. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2022, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria stood at 41.8%.
That represents a change of up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria peaked at 60.9% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 2018.
Nigeria ranks 11th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 51.1% | — |
| 1992 | 55.2% | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 60.9% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 51.1% | -16.1% |
| 2010 | 40.7% | -20.4% |
| 2012 | 40.3% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 39.7% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 38.7% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 41.8% | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 51.1% | 51.1% | 51.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 58.0% | 55.2% | 60.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 51.1% | 51.1% | 51.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.9% | 38.7% | 40.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 41.8% | 41.8% | 41.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 51.3% compare
- 9 Kenya 45.5% compare
- 10 Burkina Faso 42.1% compare
- 12 Ghana 41.2% compare
- 13 Guinea-Bissau 40.4% compare
- 14 Rwanda 39.9% compare
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 poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nigeria was 41.8% in 2022, according to 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.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 60.9% in 1996.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 2018.
- How does Nigeria rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Nigeria ranks 11th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.