The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its 2019 poverty and inequality report has revealed that Sokoto, Taraba and Jigawa States have the highest poverty rates in the country.
It stated that the south-eastern states of Ebonyi (80%) and Enugu (58%) are the other two poorest states. The NBS stated that Kwara, Kogi, Benue and the FCT, all in the north-central, are the only other northern states below the nation’s poverty line.
The data published by the NBS showed that nine in 10 people earn less than N377 per day in the three states.
The agency further disclosed that following closely behind the three states are Ebonyi and Adamawa, where eight in ten earn N377 daily.
The NBS said seven in 10 persons earn N377 per day in Zamfara, Yobe and Niger states.
But states with low poverty rates are Lagos (5 in 100), Delta (6 in 100), Osun (9 in 100), Ogun (9 in 100), and Oyo (10 in 100).
The report showed that 15 of the 17 states with the majority of poor residents are in the northern part of the country.
According to the NBS, below is a list of the poorest states in Nigeria:
1. Sokoto
2. Taraba
3. Jigawa
4. Ebonyi
5. Adamawa
6. Zamfara
7. Yobe
8. Niger
9. Gombe
10. Bauchi
11. Enugu
12. Nasarawa
13. Katsina
14. Kano
15. Plateau
16. Kebbi
17. Kaduna