Top 10 Poorest States in Nigeria (2023)

Here are the top 10 poorest states in Nigeria 2023 according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria is a country blessed with mineral resources and is made up of 36 states. These states are meant to be productive based on their available natural resources, and are meant to have a strong and honest government capable of managing these natural resources to generate its revenue.

But the reverse is the case as some states are down to poverty by 70 percent. However, these poor states in Nigeria became poor due to bad governance, mismanagement of state resources or security issues as the case may be.

We have listed the poorest states in the country according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, using infrastructural development, state of economy, literacy level, security and governance to compile this list of 10 poorest states in Nigeria this 2023.

Top Ten (10) Poorest States in Nigeria 2023

1. Sokoto state

Sokoto state is rated as the poorest state in Nigeria, ranking 81.2% on poverty level. Its harsh climate conditions has made its a no go area and has prevented foreigners and foreign investors to come for investment in the state. It is also the seat of the Caliphate.

2. Kastina state

Located at the deepest part of the north western area of Nigeria, Kastina state made it in the list of poorest states in Nigeria because it has fewer or no solid investment or sector that generates revenue for the state.

3. Adamawa state

Due to the frequent attack from Boko Haram terrorists, Adamawa state’s economy has crippled as a result of its citizens running away from the state because of safety. It has affected the state poorly to a poverty level of 74.2%.

4. Gombe state

Gombe state which is located at the north-eastern part of Nigeria is also facing its own peril in security with crippled economy to a 73.2% poverty level.

5. Jigawa state

A state situated at the north-western part of Nigeria and basically populated with the Hausa/Fulani tribe. With low literacy level and low economic growth, the poverty level of Jigawa state is at 72.1%.

6. Plateau state

Although, plateau state is one of the highest populated state in Nigeria and has some tourist attractions, It has also suffered a long timely tribal conflict which has carelessly destroyed its economy by 71%. The poverty rate in this state is terrible with many people traveling to other states of the federation.

7. Ebonyi state

Ebonyi is regarded as the poorest state in Ibo land. Unfortunately this is the only state in the South-East that falls under the top poorest states in Nigeria with poverty rate of 70.6% due to poverty, illiteracy and bad government.

8. Bauchi state

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Bauchi was ranked among states that are poor.

Statistics shows that majority of the residents in this area lack the basic amenities of life and it is a war torn zone. The mortality rate recorded after the various insurgent attack is overwhelming.

9. Kebbi state

Kebbi is a state in north-western Nigeria. Its capital is Birnin Kebbi. The state also listed among the 10 states that have the highest poverty rate in the country. Its rating is 72%.

10. Zamfara state

With 70.8 percent poverty rate, Zamfara has been ranked by the NBS among the poorest states in the country 2023. Strife, disease and hunger affects the residents of this state a lot.

Wrapping up

A lot has been said above concerning these states, from bad government to negligence, lack of jobs which causes unemployment, poverty, etc. We wonder how these affected states will fare in the future.

Niger has been ranked the state with the lowest poverty rate, closely followed by Osun state with 37.9 percent and Ondo 45.7 percent. Bayelsa and Lagos both have less than 50 percent poverty rate, with 47 and 48.6 percent respectively.

List of Top 10 Poorest States in Nigeria By GDP (2023)

Wealth is not uniformly distributed among the 36 states of Nigeria. Some of the states like Lagos, Rivers and Delta are quite richer than the other. This post is about the top 10 poorest states in Nigeria this 2023 in terms of GDP.

It is important to note that the poorest states in the country are located in the northern part of the country. Of the 10 states on the list, eight are from the north, one from the east and one from the west.

Yobe State ($2,011)

Yobe state is the poorest state in Nigeria currently. It is located in the northeastern part of the country and has the city of Damaturu as its capital.

The state lies in the dry Savanna belt and as such, it is hot and dry. This state is also one of the most terrorized states in the country.

In term of land area, Yobe is the 6^th largest state in Nigeria. The main economic activity in this state is Agriculture done by the locals mainly on a subsistence level.

Gombe State ($2,501)

Gombe state with the city of Gombe as its capital is the 2^nd poorest state in Nigeria. Just like Yobe state, it is located in the North East geopolitical zone.

Gombe state is one of the least populated states in the country. The most important economic activity in Gombe state is Agriculture.

Ebonyi State ($2,501)

The capital of Ebonyi state is Abakaliki. This is the only state from South East that is on this list. Ebonyi state is the poorest state in Igbo land.

The main economic activity in this state is farming which just like in the other states above is done at a subsistence rate.

The standard of living in Ebonyi state compared to other states in the South East is very low.

Ekiti State ($2,848)

Ekiti state is located in the Yoruba dominated south sest part of the country.

This state boasts of producing the highest number of professors in the country as well as has some pioneer academics in the state.

Ironically, despite its human and natural resources, it is the south west poorest Yoruba states. Farming is the widespread economic activity in the state.

Jigawa State ($2,988)

Jigawa state is located in the North West geopolitical zone and it is the 5^th poorest state in the country and has a GDP of $2,988.

The main economic activity in this state is agriculture.

Nasarawa State ($3,022)

Nasarawa state is one of the poorest states bordering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is located in the north-central part of the country (also known as Middle belt).

The city of Lafia is the capital of Nasarawa state and this state is blessed with solid minerals. However, it is mostly being mined by artisans.

The main economic activity in this state is agriculture done mostly at a subsistence level.

Kebbi State ($3,290)

Kebbi state is also located in the northern part of the country. The capital of the state is Birnin-Kebbi.

This state is number 7 on the list of the poorest states in the country. The main economic activity in this state is agriculture.

Taraba State ($3,397)

Taraba state is also located in the north, and has the city of Jalingo as its capital.

Just like the states above, agriculture employs most of the state’s population.

Kwara State ($3,841)

The city of Ilorin is the capital of Kwara state. The state is located in the North central part of the country and it is one of the poorest states in the country in terms of GDP

Zamfara State ($4,123)

Zamfara state is an agricultural state and depends on farming.

The state is located in the north western part of the country and it capital is Gusau.

This state is the tenth on our list of top 10 poorest states according to their GDP.