According to a recent study, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty worldwide is currently highest in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). An astounding 11.7% of the world’s extremely poor now reside in these two African nations, all of which make less than $2.15 a day, according to Statista data for 2025.
Given that Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar are among the nations with high rates of poverty, the sobering figures highlight an increasingly pressing issue for Africa. There are around 429 million people living below the international extreme poverty threshold across the continent. Of the estimated 1.4 billion people living in Africa, over one in three are having difficulty meeting their most basic daily needs.
Countries like Mozambique, Malawi, the Central African Republic, and Niger are among the most severely affected, according to experts, with the majority of their citizens earning less than $2.15 per day.
Without immediate governmental action, development analysts caution, poverty levels may increase. Unemployment, high inflation, inadequate social safety nets, and persistent conflict in some areas all contribute to families’ continued poverty.
Despite efforts by governments and foreign donors to reduce poverty, the most recent statistics show how much more needs to be done to help the continent’s citizens escape extreme poverty.
African leaders in particular should take note of this data and prioritize funding for sustainable development, education, healthcare, and job creation. Millions more people could become impoverished in the upcoming years if immediate and practical remedies are not found.
One of the largest challenges facing the globe as it strives to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is combating poverty in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and throughout Africa.
