Proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria

Nigeria: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 41.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
41.8%
World rank
10th
of 110 countries
All-time high
60.9%
in 1996
All-time low
34.2%
in 2018
Years of data
9
1985–2022

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria, 1985–2022

02040601985200320221985: 51.11992: 55.21996: 60.92003: 51.12010: 38.52012: 37.42015: 35.82018: 34.22022: 41.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2022, proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria stood at 41.8%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria peaked at 60.9% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 34.2%, in 2018.

That places Nigeria 10th out of 110 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Nigeria, 1985 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1985 51.1%
1992 55.2% +8.0%
1996 60.9% +10.3%
2003 51.1% -16.1%
2010 38.5% -24.7%
2012 37.4% -2.9%
2015 35.8% -4.3%
2018 34.2% -4.5%
2022 41.8% +22.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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 36.5% 34.2% 38.5% 4
2020s 41.8% 41.8% 41.8% 1

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 7 Uganda 59.8% compare
  2. 8 Kenya 45.5% compare
  3. 9 Burkina Faso 42.1% compare
  4. 11 Guinea-Bissau 39.9% compare
  5. 12 Ghana 39.0% compare
  6. 13 Ethiopia 38.6% compare
  7. 13 Rwanda 38.6% compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria?
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria was 41.8% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 60.9% in 1996.
What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 34.2% in 2018.
How does Nigeria rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
Nigeria ranks 10th out of 110 countries with data for 2022.
Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population below international poverty line in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-below-international-poverty-line-percent/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
164 places, 3,780 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed