Top 10 poorest states in Nigeria

The underperformance of the Nigerian state since it became independent in 1960 has had a dire impact on the entire country. Although hailed as the “giant of Africa”, the country is experiencing hardships like the rise in the rate of insecurity, slow economic growth and poverty, as well as a host of other problematic issues. Sadly, these predicaments have trickled down to the sub-national components of Nigeria, commonly referred to as states.

The standard of living in the vast majority of Nigerian states has resulted in Nigerians having a huge desire to live a better life while trying their best to survive. Many states in Nigeria are experiencing poverty on a vast scale, and even some of the states are struggling to earn revenue, with them only being saved by the monthly allocation distributed by the Federal Government. Many of these states are poor and are struggling to survive as an entity in the Nigerian state.

Hence, here are the top 10 poorest states in Nigeria, based on the National Multidimensional Poverty Index study published by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2022. According to the NBS, the National Multidimensional Poverty Index measures poverty by taking into account several factors such as access to healthcare, education, stable employment, and protection from natural disasters.

Table of Content hide 1Top 10 poorest states in Nigeria 1.110. Zamfara 1.29. Kebbi 1.38. Bauchi 1.47. Ebonyi 1.56. Yobe 1.65. Jigawa 1.74. Gombe 1.83. Bayelsa 1.92. Kastina 1.101. Sokoto

Top 10 poorest states in Nigeria

10. Zamfara

One of Nigeria’s most popular states in the northern region, Zamfara State is home to many poor Nigerians. According to the poverty index study, 78 per cent of the state’s population is poor. The rate of hungry children in this state is alarming. Poverty has become a menace that the residents of this state have to cope with, and the growing attack of bandits in the state is not helping matters.

9. Kebbi

Kebbi State is located in the northwestern part of Nigeria. It shares a boundary with Niger, Zamfara and Sokoto states. It also shares borders with the Benin Republic and Niger Republic, respectively. The standard of living in Kebbi State is deficient as its residents lack access to clean drinking water, sanitary facilities, and other basic amenities needed to live a good life. This has resulted in a rise in the poverty rate of the state.

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8. Bauchi

Bauchi State’s literacy rate is low and its unemployment rate is nearly 70 per cent. The state has been hit hard by Boko Haram and bandits’ attacks over the past decade; it also lacks basic infrastructure such as water supply systems or hospitals for treating patients who need medical attention away from home.

7. Ebonyi

The only state in the southeastern part of Nigeria on the list, Ebonyi State, was created by the late General Sanni Abacha, having been carved out of Abia State. People sometimes refer to the state as old Abia. The vast majority in the state lack formal education, with one of the significant occupations being farming.

6. Yobe

Yobe State is one of the poorest states in Nigeria. It has an unemployment rate of 52.6 per cent and an underemployment rate of 21.6 per cent, according to the NBS Q4 data of 2020. With an estimated 3.23 million people categorised as poor, deprivations in years of schooling and food security have also affected the human capital development of indigenes/residents of the state. The poverty index study stipulates the state’s multidimensional poverty rate at over 80 per cent.

5. Jigawa

Jigawa State is located in North-West Nigeria. It borders Yobe State to the northeast, Bauchi State to the east, and Katsina and Kano states to the west. About 5.76 million people are poor in this state, according to the NBS poverty index study.

Also, most children in this state are deprived of their rights in many areas. Their right to protection, survival, development, and so much more are not fulfilled, and the children continue to suffer. According to the United Nations Children’s Education Funds (UNICEF), 74 per cent of the children in Jigawa are multi-dimensionally poor.

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4. Gombe

Gombe State is one of Nigeria’s poorest states. The NBS report notes that 3.02 million of the state’s population are poor.

Also, many drivers who ply various roads in the state have complained about the bad roads, which have invariably affected the movement of people and goods. The state is heavily reliant on agriculture, but it is another state which has fallen prey to terrorist attacks in recent years. These attacks have affected businesses and the ability of residents to generate income for themselves, thereby increasing the poverty rate.

3. Bayelsa

Located in the South-South region of the country, Bayelsa State is one of the sub-nationals which provides Nigeria with a huge chunk of its national revenue, courtesy of crude oil. Yet, the state remains one of the poorest in the country. According to the NBS report, 2.61 million of the state’s population can be classified as poor.

Furthermore, due to its location and topography, the state has little access to facilities and amenities that some other Niger Delta states have. Access to clean water is a problem due to the oil pollution of the majority of the hinterland, which, ironically, is where crude oil is extracted. Also, agriculture, particularly farming and fishery, one of the mainstays of the local economy, has been severely hampered due to the degradation of the environment, thereby leaving the people with little to no chance of generating income.

2. Kastina

Boko Haram has taken a toll on this state, with most towns being deserted due to fighting between soldiers and terrorists. In addition, many poor people have been forced out by drought or famine resulting from severe droughts, which killed many livestock animals such as cattle and sheep; thus affecting their livelihoods severely, causing them great poverty, which makes them dependent on government aid programmes like food rations.

1. Sokoto

Part of the majority of Sokoto state, located in the northwestern part of Nigeria, is rural. Most of the residents here live below the poverty line. Many people have queried the government because Sokoto State seems to be the leading state when it comes to the poorest state in Nigeria. Sokoto state joins the long list of northern states who are experiencing poverty on a vast scale,

According to the NBS, 5.8 million people are poor out of the state’s 6.4 million population.

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