The World Bank has revealed a shocking new report showing that 75.5% of rural Nigerians are living in poverty, underlining the serious challenges facing the nation. According to the April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, the poverty rate in rural areas is nearly double that of urban regions, where 41.3% of people are also struggling to make ends meet.
The report, which used data from Nigeria’s most recent national surveys, highlights the devastating impact of ongoing economic instability, insecurity, and inflation. It shows that poverty in Nigeria has worsened since the 2018/19 surveys, with an additional 42 million Nigerians falling into poverty. By 2024, the World Bank estimates that over 54% of the population will be living in poverty.
Rural Nigerians, who largely rely on agriculture, are the hardest hit. Farming, which is often only enough to survive on, has been unable to keep pace with climate challenges, worsening the situation. The World Bank also pointed to regional disparities, noting that poverty is more widespread in the northern parts of Nigeria, where nearly 47% of people live below the poverty line, compared to just 13.5% in the south.
Children, especially those aged 0–14, are among the most affected, with a poverty rate of 72.5%. Gender disparities are also evident, with 63.9% of women and 63.1% of men falling below the poverty line. Education is a key factor; those with no formal education have a poverty rate of 79.5%, while even among those with secondary education, half still live in poverty.
The World Bank report also pointed to the inadequate access to basic services like water, sanitation, and electricity, with many Nigerians living in poor conditions. The report calls for stronger government actions to address the root causes of poverty, including diversifying the economy, improving education and health systems, and providing better social protection to shield the poorest from economic shocks.
While the government has introduced temporary cash transfers for 15 million households, experts say this is not enough to alleviate the growing poverty crisis. The World Bank urged Nigeria to focus on long-term reforms to boost job creation and reduce the country’s reliance on oil.
