Nigeria has the world’s largest number of homeless people, with 24 million people without homes, according to data from World Population Review.
The country is the most populous in Africa, and the issue is largely due to access to wealth, which is often exploited by other countries or their states.
Nigeria’s large size also leads to a large influx of immigration and emigration, which changes house ownership frequently. This can lead to natural gentrification, as investors seek more expensive houses. Nigeria also has a lot of land for sale, which could be used by philanthropic and charitable organizations to create a more acceptable situation.
Nigeria ranks highest among the top 10 countries ranking on homelessness, with 26.70% of the population living in poverty. The drop in homeownership rate from 25% to 20% in 2023 is linked to high inflation, mortgage rates, flooding, and building collapse.
To unlock a brighter future, Nigeria needs to offer substantial incentives to first-time homeowners, implement affordable housing initiatives, and collaborate with the government and private developers.
