At least 141 million Nigerians are projected to be living in poverty in 2026, according to PwC’s Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026. The report, titled “Turning Macroeconomic Stability into Sustainable Growth,” estimates that poverty levels could deteriorate to about 62 per cent of the population in the year leading up to the 2027 general elections.
PwC said that despite recent policy measures aimed at stabilising the economy, weak real income growth and persistently high living costs are expected to push more households into poverty over the next two years. The report noted that most Nigerians are unlikely to see income increases sufficient to offset rising prices in the short term, with inflationary pressures continuing to erode purchasing power.