Nigeria Leads World in Extreme Poverty with 73.1 Million

According to 2026 estimates from World Data Lab, Nigeria has the highest number of people living in extreme poverty, totaling approximately 73.1 million. This figure narrowly surpasses that of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has an estimated 71.6 million people in extreme poverty, marking a difference of only 1.5 million.

Afghanistan ranks third with 35.2 million, while Mozambique and Yemen follow with 25 million and 24.2 million, respectively. The data indicates a significant concentration of extreme poverty in Africa, with seven out of the ten countries listed being African nations.

The only countries outside Africa in this ranking are Afghanistan, Yemen, and India. World Data Lab's World Poverty Clock utilizes economic and demographic data to model poverty levels and updates its estimates as new information becomes available, relying on data from recognized institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and United Nations.