By Sabiu Abdullahi
An additional 17.9 million Nigerians became multidimensionally poor between 2021 and 2024, marking the largest increase recorded by any country during its latest assessment period, according to the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index.
The report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), showed that Nigeria’s progress in reducing multidimensional poverty between 2018 and 2021 was reversed in the subsequent three years.
Afghanistan followed Nigeria with an increase of 5.3 million people living in multidimensional poverty during its latest assessment period.
The report 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.”
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.
The report 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).”
Poverty Rate Rises To 38.7 Per Cent
Unlike conventional poverty measures based on income or consumption, the Multidimensional Poverty Index assesses overlapping disadvantages in health, education and living standards.
These include inadequate nutrition, limited access to healthcare and education, poor sanitation, insufficient drinking water, lack of electricity and substandard housing.
The report’s harmonised historical comparison showed that Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty rate increased from 33 per cent in 2021 to 38.7 per cent in 2024, a rise of 5.7 percentage points.
The number of people affected rose from 72.21 million to 90.07 million, while the country’s Multidimensional Poverty Index value increased from 0.175 to 0.208.
However, the report’s separate national estimate for 2024 put the number of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty at 113.32 million, representing 48.7 per cent of the population. This estimate was based on the latest survey without the adjustments used for the historical comparison.
The report also found that 28.7 per cent of Nigerians experienced severe multidimensional poverty, while another 18.1 per cent were vulnerable to it.
It explained, “In Nigeria, poverty incidence declined from 2018–2021, then increased from 2021–2024.”
Significant Differences Across States
The report highlighted wide variations in the causes and severity of poverty across Nigeria’s states. Kebbi, Yobe and Sokoto were among the states with the highest multidimensional poverty burdens, while Lagos recorded the lowest MPI value.
It used Yobe and Sokoto to illustrate how similar levels of poverty can arise from different forms of deprivation.
The report 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.”
It stressed that identifying these differences was important for developing interventions that respond to the specific needs of individual communities.
Sub-Saharan Africa Records Largest Share Of Global Poverty
Globally, the report estimated that 1.2 billion people, 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, more than half of the global total.
Children bore a disproportionate share of the burden, with 617 million people under the age of 18 classified as multidimensionally poor worldwide.
The report stated, “Roughly one in every three children is multidimensionally poor, compared to one in seven adults.”
The findings raise concerns about Nigeria’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing poverty in all its forms and dimensions by at least half by 2030.
Utomi Raises Concern Over Economic Hardship
The findings come amid concerns about the cost of living, food insecurity and the widening gap between wealthy Nigerians and citizens struggling to meet basic needs.
Professor of Political Economy Pat Utomi recently warned that rising poverty, hunger and insecurity, alongside declining public confidence in government institutions, were putting pressure on the country.
He also urged Nigerians to resist the erosion of democratic values ahead of the 2027 elections.
Utomi warned that growing inequality between wealthy politicians and impoverished citizens could threaten national stability.