An African country on the Gulf of Guinea boasting many incredible natural landmarks and wildlife reserves has been named as having the world’s ‘worst’ quality of life in 2025. Beating the likes of war-torn Ukraine, Iraq and Afghanistan, Nigeria took the top spot, based on UN HDI data and reports from WorldPopulationReview.
Battling persistent poverty, significant health challenges, infrastructure gaps, and environmental degradation, 57 million Nigerians lack safe water and over 130 million lack adequate sanitation. Meanwhile, the country has more than 10 million children out of school. The quality of life index reflects over wellbeing using key factors such as health care, cost of living, climate and more.
The higher the number a country receives on the index, the better the standard of living. Nigeria only scored a miserable 21.5, reflecting its deeply rooted problems that impact the standard of living on a daily basis.
Also affecting its score is its failing economy, as the African country is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation, leading to widespread hardship and anger.
With annual inflation nearly 30%, Nigeria has a depreciating currency, and rising poverty.
In the past, the country has also relied heavily on oil, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure – all of which are causing widespread hardship for Nigerians.
Just missing out on the top of having the worst quality of life is Bangladesh. Stemming from factors like poverty, high levels of air and water pollution as well as inadequate healthcare, this South Asian country, which is marked by lush greenery scored 73.9 – 52 points higher than Nigeria.
Rounding up the top three is Venezuela which is marked by a prolonged humanitarian crisis.