Nigeria Surpasses India in Number of People Living in Poverty – Report
A new statistical comparison released by Statisense indicates that Nigeria currently has more people living in poverty than India, a development that has sparked intense public debate about economic conditions and governance in the country.
According to the data, Nigeria’s poverty rate currently stands at approximately 41.8 percent, with an estimated 97.26 million people living on less than $3 per day. By contrast, India has a significantly lower poverty rate of 5.3 percent, resulting in about 76.85 million people living below the same threshold.
What makes the comparison particularly striking is the massive difference in population between the two countries. India has a population of about 1.45 billion people, while Nigeria’s population is estimated at roughly 232.68 million. Despite India having more than six times Nigeria’s population, the number of people living in poverty there is still lower than in Nigeria.
The statistics indicate that Nigeria has approximately 20.41 million more people living in poverty than India, highlighting the scale of the country’s economic challenges.
Economists often use poverty thresholds such as the $3 per day benchmark to measure how many people struggle to meet basic living standards. These measurements help analysts compare living conditions across countries and assess economic development over time.
Nigeria’s high poverty rate has been attributed to several factors, including rising inflation, unemployment, insecurity in key agricultural regions, and limited industrial growth. In recent years, the cost of living has increased significantly, affecting the purchasing power of households across the country.
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Economic reforms introduced by the administration of Bola Tinubu have also played a role in shaping the current economic landscape. Some of the government’s policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate adjustments, were introduced to stabilise public finances and encourage long-term investment. However, these reforms have also led to short-term economic pressure for many Nigerians.
As the cost of transportation, food, and essential goods continues to rise, many families have found it increasingly difficult to maintain basic living standards. Analysts say this has contributed to the growing number of citizens falling below the poverty line.
India’s lower poverty rate, on the other hand, has been attributed to a combination of sustained economic growth, expansion in manufacturing and technology sectors, and large-scale social welfare programmes that target low-income households.
Over the past two decades, India has invested heavily in infrastructure, digital services, and industrial development, helping lift millions of citizens out of extreme poverty.
The comparison between the two countries has sparked heated discussions on social media platforms and online forums, where many Nigerians have expressed concern about the country’s economic direction.
Some commentators argue that Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, including large crude oil reserves, should provide enough revenue to significantly reduce poverty if managed effectively. Others say long-standing structural challenges, including governance issues, population growth, and limited diversification of the economy, continue to slow progress.
Despite the worrying figures, development experts say poverty reduction is still achievable through policies that prioritise economic diversification, job creation, education, and improved infrastructure.
Many analysts believe that expanding sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and renewable energy could help create millions of jobs and gradually reduce the number of people living below the poverty line in Nigeria.
For now, the latest statistics have added urgency to ongoing national discussions about economic reforms, governance, and the need for sustainable development strategies that can improve the living conditions of millions of Nigerians.