Poverty Fight Suffers Major Setback as 17.9m More Fall Into Deprivation

By Chibuzor Alli

Nigeria has suffered a major setback in its fight against poverty, with 17.9 million additional people becoming multidimensionally poor between 2021 and 2024, reversing gains recorded in the preceding three-year period, a new global report has revealed.

The 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, published by the United Nations Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, identified Nigeria as the country with the largest absolute increase in multidimensional poverty among countries assessed.

The report placed Nigeria ahead of Afghanistan, which recorded an increase of 5.3 million people living in multidimensional poverty during its latest assessment period.

It stated, “In absolute terms, the largest increase in the number of poor people is seen in Nigeria, where although poverty had decreased in the previous period (2018–2021), in the recent period (2021–2024), 17.9 million people became multidimensionally poor, followed by 5.3 million in Afghanistan.”

The findings highlight the scale of the challenge facing Nigeria as millions of households struggle with overlapping disadvantages affecting their living conditions, access to essential services and overall welfare.

Poverty rate climbs after earlier progress

The report’s harmonised historical comparison showed that Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty rate increased from 33.0 per cent in 2021 to 38.7 per cent in 2024, a rise of 5.7 percentage points.

The number of people affected grew from 72.21 million to 90.07 million over the same period, while Nigeria’s Multidimensional Poverty Index value rose from 0.175 to 0.208, indicating worsening deprivation.

The report explained, “In Nigeria, poverty incidence declined from 2018–2021, then increased from 2021–2024.”

Nigeria was among five countries that recorded increases in multidimensional poverty during their respective assessment periods. The others were Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Guinea and Kyrgyzstan.

It stated, “In contrast, five countries reported increases in multidimensional poverty. These are Afghanistan (2015/16–2022/23), Central African Republic (2010–2018/19), Guinea (2016–2018), Kyrgyzstan (2018–2023) and Nigeria (2021–2024).”

Separate national estimate puts poor population at 113 million

Beyond the harmonised historical comparison, the report’s separate national estimate for 2024 placed the number of multidimensionally poor Nigerians at 113.32 million, representing 48.7 per cent of the population.

The national estimate uses the latest survey without the adjustments applied to the historical comparison, meaning it should not be treated as directly interchangeable with the 90.07 million figure.

The report also estimated that 28.7 per cent of Nigerians experienced severe multidimensional poverty, while another 18.1 per cent were vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.

Unlike monetary poverty measures, which focus on income or consumption, the Multidimensional Poverty Index assesses overlapping disadvantages in health, education and living standards.

These include inadequate nutrition, limited access to education and healthcare, poor housing, unreliable electricity, unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation.

A person is classified as multidimensionally poor when they experience deprivation in at least one-third of the index’s weighted indicators.

Northern states face distinct forms of deprivation

The report identified substantial differences in poverty levels and the factors driving deprivation across Nigerian states.

Kebbi, Yobe and Sokoto were among the states with the highest multidimensional poverty burdens, while Lagos recorded the lowest MPI value.

However, the report stressed that states with similar overall poverty levels may experience different combinations of hardship, requiring interventions tailored to local conditions.

It noted, “Compare, for example, the poorest subnational regions of Nigeria: Yobe and Sokoto, which have similar MPI values. Deprivations in nutrition and child mortality contribute more to poverty in Yobe, while in Sokoto, deprivations in water and electricity are stronger contributors.”

The distinction underscores why poverty reduction policies may need to address different priorities across communities, from nutrition and child health to access to water and electricity.

Children bear a significant share of global poverty

The report estimated that 1.2 billion people worldwide, representing 18.9 per cent of the population covered by the index, lived in acute multidimensional poverty.

Of this number, 534 million experienced severe poverty, while another 952 million people were classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 616 million people living in multidimensional poverty, representing more than half of the global total.

Children were disproportionately affected. The report estimated that 617 million multidimensionally poor people worldwide were below the age of 18.

It stated, “Roughly one in every three children is multidimensionally poor, compared to one in seven adults.”

The figures point to the wider consequences of deprivation for access to education, nutrition, healthcare and other conditions necessary for children’s development.

Poverty reversal raises concerns over 2030 target

Nigeria’s worsening poverty indicators present a challenge to efforts to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing poverty in all its forms and dimensions by at least half by 2030.

The findings also come amid broader concerns about hunger, insecurity, inequality and the ability of households to meet basic needs.

A Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, recently warned that rising poverty, hunger, insecurity and declining public confidence in government institutions were pushing Nigerians to the brink.

He urged citizens to resist the erosion of democratic values ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that the hardship faced by millions and the growing divide between wealthy politicians and impoverished citizens could undermine national stability.

The latest poverty report adds to concerns about the need for effective policies that address not only income but also access to essential services and basic living conditions.

With the 2030 poverty-reduction deadline approaching, the reversal recorded between 2021 and 2024 highlights the scale of the task facing Nigeria in restoring progress and improving living standards across the country.