The World Bank’s April 2025 *Poverty and Equity Brief* paints a troubling picture of Nigeria’s growing economic disparity, with poverty tightening its grip—especially in rural areas.
According to the report, an alarming 75.5% of Nigeria’s rural population now lives below the poverty line, underscoring the severity of the crisis in the country’s hinterlands. Stark regional inequalities also persist, with poverty rates soaring to 46.5% in the northern geopolitical zones, compared to just 13.5% in the south.
The report further notes that economic inequality remains entrenched. Nigeria’s Gini index—a measure of income inequality—stood at 35.1 as of 2018/19, reflecting a persistent economic divide.
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Vulnerable demographics, including children, women, and individuals without formal education, are disproportionately affected by poverty. The World Bank introduced a metric called the *Prosperity Gap*, which estimates the income multiple needed for everyone to achieve a daily standard of \$25. Nigeria’s score is a daunting 10.2—higher than that of most peer nations.
“Living standards of the urban poor are hardly improving, and jobs that would allow households to escape poverty are lacking,” the report warns.
The World Bank is calling for urgent, targeted policy reforms aimed at protecting vulnerable populations from inflationary shocks and fostering sustainable job creation through more productive economic sectors.
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