World Bank report: 83% of uneducated Nigerians live in poverty

A World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria reveals a significant economic divide linked to educational attainment. According to the analysis, 82.9% of Nigerians aged 16 and older without formal education live below the poverty threshold of $4.20 per person per day.

In contrast, the poverty rate for those with tertiary or post-secondary education is 26.6%. The data shows that poverty levels decline as education increases: 60.9% of primary school graduates and 51.6% of secondary school graduates live below the poverty line. This indicates that uneducated Nigerians are more than three times as likely to live in poverty as those with higher education.

Despite the correlation, education does not eliminate financial hardship, as over half of those with secondary education and more than a quarter of those with tertiary qualifications remain poor. The report also highlights that children bear a heavy burden, with 73% of Nigerians aged 0 to 14 living below the daily poverty threshold.