Nigeria overtakes India in world’s extreme poverty ranking

Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria, has overtaken India as the country with the highest number of people living in extreme poverty, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians thought to be living on less than $1.90 a day. The figure is projected to rise by the end of 2018 due to the struggle to translate her oil wealth into rising living standards for its citizens.

The information based on a report by the World Poverty Clock and compiled by Brookings Institute, reveals that over 643 million people globally live in extreme poverty, with Africans accounting for about two-thirds of the total number. But while the numbers of Nigerians falling into extreme poverty grows by roughly six people every minute, poverty in India continues to decrease.

At present, an estimated 5.3% of Indians or 71.5 million people, live below the poverty line. The researchers note that 14 out of 18 countries where poverty is rising are in Africa, adding that if current rates persist, 90% of the world’s poorest will be living on the continent by 2030.

Bangladesh and Indonesia are the only other non-African nations to feature among the list of 10 worst affected countries, with an estimated 17 million and 14.2 million people living in extreme poverty, respectively.

The top 10 extremely poor countries in the world.

1.      Nigeria – 86.9 million people.

2.      D.R Congo – 60.9 million people.

3.      Ethiopia – 23.9 million people.

4.      Tanzania – 19.9 million people.

5.      Mozambique – 17.8 million people.

6.      Kenya – 14.7 million people.

The least four are Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan and Zambia with 14.2, 13.8, 11.4 and 9.5 respectively.