Household size and poverty: A study of Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is currently facing a surge in its population and has been projected to become the fourth-largest population in the world by 2050. In the face of this growing population, poverty is becoming endemic in the country. Northwestern Nigeria has the largest population in the country as well as the highest poverty incidence. Could the population of the north-west be one of the factors responsible for the endemism of poverty in the region? This study explored the relationship between household population and household poverty in Northwestern Nigeria. The study used the national representative cross-sectional data from the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). In the survey, the northwest region has a sample of 9,673 respondents. Employing the logistic regression estimation model, the study reveals that household population is significant and positively related to household poverty. Households with members of between 6 – 10 and > 10 are 22% (OR = 1.22) and 30% (OR = 1.30) more likely to be poor compared to households with members of 1 - 5. The findings reveal that the household population significantly increases the likelihood of poverty among the households. Policymakers therefore need to pay more attention to the booming population and how the adverse effect could be curtailed.