Benue: population, poverty, prices, health, schools and state finances

Benue is a state of Nigeria, number 12 of 37 by population. The National Population Commission projected the population of Benue at 6,259,867 for 2023 (3,155,279 male, 3,104,588 female), 2.8% of Nigeria's 221.25 million; 12th largest of the 36 states and the FCT. Nigeria has not held a census since 2006, so every state figure is a projection from that count.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Benue: 6.5% of people in Benue are poor and live with an unemployed adult, and 23.5% are poor and live with an underemployed adult (2021/22).
• Health in Benue: A baby born in Benue in 2022 could expect to live 53.7 years if a boy and 58.4 years if a girl, according to NPC estimates; joint 12th shortest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 55.1 and 57.2).
• Education in Benue: 18.4% of Benue's 1.65 million school-age children (6 to 15) were not attending school, about 300,000 children; 18th lowest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 28.7%).
• Poverty and living standards in Benue: 75.0% of people in Benue were multidimensionally poor in the 2022 Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (survey 2021/22), about 4.71 million people. That rate is 12th highest of the 36 states and the FCT; the national rate was 63%.
• Government budget and revenue in Benue: Benue raised ₦29.6 billion of its own revenue (taxes plus fees and charges from its ministries and agencies) in 2025, 0.6% of the ₦5.15 trillion raised by all states and the FCT; 5th lowest of the 36 states and the FCT. That was up 44.7% on 2024 (₦20.4 billion).

More figures

• The 2023-24 Demographic and Health Survey measured a fertility rate of 3.5 births per woman in Benue (Nigeria: 4.8), joint 10th lowest of the 36 states and the FCT. Source: National Population Commission and Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (with ICF) · saved copy

How states are governed in Nigeria

States (36) and the Federal Capital Territory. State governor and House of Assembly elected; the FCT is run by a minister appointed by the president. Major government level: makes the laws that create and run local governments; runs State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).

Every tier of government in Nigeria

Other states of Nigeria

• Kano 15,671,491
• Lagos 13,710,862
• Katsina 10,661,373
• Kaduna 9,249,537
• Bauchi 8,529,872
• Oyo 8,127,483
• Jigawa 7,687,056
• Rivers 7,616,859
• Niger 6,965,970
• Ogun 6,512,195
• Sokoto 6,501,265
• Borno 6,207,654
• Anambra 6,061,011
• Zamfara 5,990,131
• Delta 5,737,314
• Kebbi 5,711,801
• Imo 5,548,808
• Ondo 5,422,399
• Akwa Ibom 5,044,286
• Adamawa 5,017,720
• Edo 4,874,613
• Plateau 4,807,502
• Enugu 4,768,489
• Kogi 4,557,686
• Osun 4,494,970
• Cross River 4,490,963
• Abia 4,232,255
• Gombe 4,058,199
• Yobe 3,728,525
• Taraba 3,689,513
• Ekiti 3,667,047
• Kwara 3,626,882
• Ebonyi 3,315,180
• Federal Capital Territory 3,171,148
• Nasarawa 2,948,849
• Bayelsa 2,583,352

Up a level: Nigeria · government and power in Nigeria

Sources

• National Bureau of Statistics: Annual Abstract of Statistics 2023, Table 434: deposit money bank branches by state, 2017-2022 (Central Bank of Nigeria), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e033cb20cc2d…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Cost of a Healthy Diet, April 2026: state averages (naira per person per day), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f0db22b5253f…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: CPI and Inflation Report September 2026: Table 1 (national) and Table 5 (state consumer price indices), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6951a9d0b87f…)
• Debt Management Office: Domestic debt data for the 36 states and the FCT as at June 30, 2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17e59a86a5ba…)
• Debt Management Office: States, FCT and Federal Government's external debt stock as at June 30, 2026 (provisional), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 56a465c0c569…)
• Federal Ministry of Education: Benue Education Statistics 2024: Annual School Census 2024/25 (Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 781632709499…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: FAAC Disbursement July 2026 (June 2026 revenue): Table III state governments and LGC summary (Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7de8f58a0d10…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Internally Generated Revenue at State Level 2025, with data for 2019-2025 (IGR_DATA_2019_2025.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3710744bb15…)
• National Population Commission (with ICF): Nigeria Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2025-26, Key Indicators Report: Tables 8, 10, 12, 16 and 17 by state, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6917a48ddb5f…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022), Appendix D tables by state, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 26498590b192…)
• National Population Commission and Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (with ICF): Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2023-24, Key Indicators Report: Tables 4, 11 and 14 (fertility, child mortality, birth registration by state), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94af6e60f7ed…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch, May 2026: average price per litre by state, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b792493b6fb8…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Demographic Bulletin 2023 datasheet, Annex 3: projected population by state, 2023 (NPC); Annex 8: internally displaced persons by state (NBS/IOM), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6764616bf151…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Telecoms Data Q4 2025: active voice and internet subscriptions per state (Telecoms_Q4_2025.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70362bae97f6…)
• National Bureau of Statistics: Demographic Statistics Bulletin 2022, Annexes 7-12: births, deaths, life expectancy, fertility and infant mortality by state (NPC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b1ee55e5952a…)

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