The inflation rate in Nigeria rose from 22.41% in May 2023 to 34.80% by December 2024 and dropped to 24.48% in January 2025

Key takeaways:

  • Amidst the overall upward rise in inflation since May 2023, Nigeria experienced a brief relief with slight declines between June and September 2024.
  • The inflation rate in May 2024 was 11.54% points higher than that of June 2023.
  • The inflation rate in Nigeria increased by approximately 55% from May 2023 to December 2024.
  • In December 2024, the inflation rate increased by about 4.9% points when compared to January 2024.
  • Between December 2024 and January 2025, the inflation rate dropped by 10.32%.
  • The National Bureau of Statistics rebased the Consumer Price Index from 2009 to 2024 in January 2025.

Following the removal of subsidies and the devaluation of the naira in May 2023, the inflation rate has consistently shown an upward trend, climbing from 22.41% in May 2023 to 34.80% by December 2024.

The inflation rate for May 2024 represented an increase of 11.54% points relative to May 2023. By December 2024, the inflation rate reached 34.80%, a slight rise from 34.60% in November 2024. This figure was 12.38% points greater than May 2023 and 5.87% points higher than December 2023.

This increase was primarily attributed to heightened demand during the festive season in December, as the National Bureau of Statistics reported, with food and non-alcoholic beverages playing a significant role in driving price increases.

The inflation rate as of January 2025 dropped to 24.5% from 34.8% in December 2024. This significant drop is attributed to the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index from 2009 to 2024 in January 2025.

Source:

National Bureau of Statistics

Period:

May 2023 - January 2025
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Every food item tracked has at least doubled in price since May 2023
  • Every comparable food item tracked is now at least twice as expensive as it was in May 2023.
  • Nearly half of the selected food items have more than tripled in price since the month before fuel subsidy removal.
  • Unripe plantain recorded the steepest increase, rising by 469% between May 2023 and April 2026.
  • Ripe plantain, yam tuber, and fresh tilapia also saw extreme increases of more than 300%.
  • Even the slowest-rising staples, including frozen chicken, beans, gari, and maize, still more than doubled in price.
Healthy diet costs rose fastest in Nigeria’s North-West over two years
  • Healthy diet costs rose 49% nationally in two years.
  • North-West states recorded the fastest increases.
  • All seven North-West states rose above the national average.
  • Katsina and Kogi recorded the steepest increases, at 98%.
  • Akwa Ibom had the lowest increase, at 5%.
One adult’s monthly healthy diet takes two-thirds of minimum wage
  • One adult’s healthy diet takes 66% of Nigeria’s minimum wage.
  • The national average monthly cost is about ₦46,230 per adult.
  • Ekiti has the highest burden, at 90% of minimum wage.
  • Six states require over 80% of minimum wage for one adult’s healthy diet.
  • Adamawa has the lowest burden, at 43%.
The basket of food that cost ₦100k in January 2025 cost approximately ₦114k in August
  • Food prices rose roughly 13.9% from January to August 2025, according to the rebased Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the National Bureau of Statistics.
  • Month-on-month inflation for food fluctuated, with some months seeing sharper increases than others.
  • Using January as a baseline, the purchasing power of money for food declined steadily, meaning households need more naira to buy the same items.
  • Food carries a large weight in the CPI basket, making it a major driver of overall inflation and cost-of-living increases.
South Sudan tops Africa's food inflation list with 106%; two other East African nations in top 5
  • South Sudan and Zimbabwe have crossed 100% food inflation.
  • Three of the top five countries with the highest food inflation in Africa are in East Africa, showing a regional pattern of vulnerability.
  • Nigeria ranks 7th in Africa for food inflation at 21.3%, underlining persistent cost-of-living pressures despite being a major economy.
  • Liberia and Zambia round out the top 10 with double-digit food inflation.
  • Djibouti, Somalia, and Senegal are experiencing food price deflation, setting them apart from most African countries.
In January 2025, the food inflation rate dropped to 26.08% from 39.84% in December 2024
Key takeaways:
  • The inflation rate experienced a growth rate of 60.5% from May 2023 to December 2024.
  • The May 2024 food inflation rate grew by 15.84% points higher than May 2023 levels.
  • The most significant monthly increase occurred in February 2024, when food inflation rose by 2.51% from January 2024.
  • Brief periods of relief were observed in July, August, and December 2024, when the rates showed slight declines.
  • The food inflation rate dropped by 13.76% between December 2024 and January 2025 due to CPI rebasing to 2024 from 2009.
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