Economy, jobs and prices in Benue, Nigeria: official figures
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).
What is the inflation rate in Benue?
Consumer prices in Benue were 16.23% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, 12th highest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 14.63%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast are food prices rising in Benue?
Food prices in Benue were up 27.32% on September 2025, 5th highest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 19.59%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow much is petrol in Benue?
Petrol cost an average of ₦1,698.57 a litre in Benue in May 2026, 3rd most expensive of the 36 states and the FCT (national average ₦1,596.25); a year earlier it was ₦1,009.31.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow much does it cost to eat healthily in Benue?
The cheapest healthy diet cost ₦1,610 per person per day in Benue in April 2026, about ₦48,311 a month, 17th most expensive of the 36 states and the FCT (national average ₦1,589).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many homes in Benue have electricity?
37.6% of households in Benue had electricity in 2021 (33.2% from the national grid, 4.4% off-grid), 8th lowest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 63.5%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Benue use the internet?
There were 3,051,979 active internet subscriptions in Benue at the end of 2025, up 13.8% on a year earlier, and 4,053,460 active voice lines. That is about 49 internet subscriptions per 100 residents, 13th lowest of the 36 states and the FCT (one person can hold several lines).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many banks are there in Benue?
Benue had 64 commercial bank branches in 2022, about 1.0 per 100,000 residents; 12th lowest of the 36 states and the FCT.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Benue compares with other states
Inflation, year on year (Sep 2026)
Benue ranks 12 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Inflation, year on year |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kaduna | 17.31% |
| 10 | Rivers | 17.27% |
| 11 | Akwa Ibom | 16.58% |
| 12 | Benue | 16.23% |
| 13 | Ondo | 15.92% |
| 14 | Kwara | 15.74% |
| 15 | Plateau | 15.58% |
Petrol, average price per litre (May 2026)
Benue ranks 3 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Petrol, average price per litre |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edo | ₦1,723 |
| 2 | Bauchi | ₦1,715 |
| 3 | Benue | ₦1,699 |
| 4 | Gombe | ₦1,686 |
| 5 | Delta | ₦1,668 |
| 6 | Yobe | ₦1,666 |
| 7 | Abia | ₦1,654 |
Households with electricity (2021)
Benue ranks 30 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Gombe | 43.6% |
| 28 | Sokoto | 43.2% |
| 29 | Zamfara | 40.8% |
| 30 | Benue | 37.6% |
| 31 | Adamawa | 35.6% |
| 32 | Plateau | 31.8% |
| 33 | Katsina | 31.3% |
More on Benue: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · 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…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022), Appendix D tables by state, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 26498590b192…)
- 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: Telecoms Data Q4 2025: active voice and internet subscriptions per state (Telecoms_Q4_2025.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70362bae97f6…)
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