Economy, jobs and prices in Rivers, Nigeria: official figures
38.6% of people in Rivers are poor and live with an unemployed adult, and 20.7% are poor and live with an underemployed adult (2021/22).
What is the inflation rate in Rivers?
Consumer prices in Rivers were 17.27% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, 10th highest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 14.63%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast are food prices rising in Rivers?
Food prices in Rivers were up 26.77% on September 2025, 6th highest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 19.59%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow much is petrol in Rivers?
Petrol cost an average of ₦1,580.76 a litre in Rivers in May 2026, 16th cheapest of the 36 states and the FCT (national average ₦1,596.25); a year earlier it was ₦981.67.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow much does it cost to eat healthily in Rivers?
The cheapest healthy diet cost ₦1,626 per person per day in Rivers in April 2026, about ₦48,768 a month, 15th most expensive of the 36 states and the FCT (national average ₦1,589).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many homes in Rivers have electricity?
88.7% of households in Rivers had electricity in 2021 (84.0% from the national grid, 4.7% off-grid), 5th highest of the 36 states and the FCT (Nigeria: 63.5%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Rivers use the internet?
There were 5,308,434 active internet subscriptions in Rivers at the end of 2025, up 6.5% on a year earlier, and 6,278,063 active voice lines. That is about 70 internet subscriptions per 100 residents, 13th highest 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 Rivers?
Rivers had 290 commercial bank branches in 2022, about 3.8 per 100,000 residents; 3rd highest of the 36 states and the FCT.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Rivers compares with other states
Inflation, year on year (Sep 2026)
Rivers ranks 10 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Inflation, year on year |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Bayelsa | 17.66% |
| 8 | Lagos | 17.35% |
| 9 | Kaduna | 17.31% |
| 10 | Rivers | 17.27% |
| 11 | Akwa Ibom | 16.58% |
| 12 | Benue | 16.23% |
| 13 | Ondo | 15.92% |
Petrol, average price per litre (May 2026)
Rivers ranks 22 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Petrol, average price per litre |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Ogun | ₦1,598 |
| 20 | Imo | ₦1,592 |
| 21 | Bayelsa | ₦1,591 |
| 22 | Rivers | ₦1,581 |
| 23 | Nasarawa | ₦1,576 |
| 24 | Kaduna | ₦1,573 |
| 25 | Enugu | ₦1,570 |
Households with electricity (2021)
Rivers ranks 5 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Edo | 92.8% |
| 3 | Anambra | 92.3% |
| 4 | Abia | 91.4% |
| 5 | Rivers | 88.7% |
| 6 | Imo | 83.1% |
| 7 | Enugu | 83.1% |
| 8 | Delta | 81.9% |
More on Rivers: 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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