Why Does Nigeria Lead the World in Extreme Poverty in 2026?

Recent data shows Nigeria has nearly 95 million people living in extreme poverty this year, placing us first globally. By comparison, DR Congo follows with about 82 million, India with 75 million, and Pakistan with 58 million. It’s striking that Nigeria outpaces India—despite India’s much larger population—by almost 20 million people in extreme poverty. This gap raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our economic policies, levels of corporate investment, and the reach of grassroots financial inclusion programs. What is driving these rising numbers? Are shortcomings in our economic strategy to blame, or have we failed to promote decentralized wealth-building and financial education at the community level? Share your thoughts on realistic solutions. How can average Nigerians innovate and drive policy changes to lift millions out of poverty?

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