Nigeria’s struggle with quality of life issues has been starkly highlighted in a new global assessment, with the country ranking a disappointing 135th out of 199 nations in the latest Quality of Living Index by Global Citizen Solutions. The comprehensive study, which evaluated everything from basic infrastructure to political freedoms, assigned Nigeria an overall score of 54.1, placing it among the world’s least attractive destinations for potential residents.
The poor ranking reflects Nigeria’s ongoing challenges across multiple sectors, with particularly low scores in environmental quality and progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The assessment considered crucial factors including infrastructure availability, daily living costs, personal and political freedoms, environmental conditions, and societal attitudes toward foreigners.
In a concerning development for African leadership aspirations, Nigeria trails behind numerous continental peers. Countries such as Namibia (87th), South Africa (88th), Tunisia (90th), and Ghana (91st) all achieved significantly better rankings. Even smaller nations like Seychelles (101st) and Senegal (106th) outperformed Africa’s largest economy.
Despite the generally poor showing, the report did reveal some bright spots. Nigeria scored particularly well in migrant acceptance, suggesting a welcoming attitude toward foreigners. The country also ranked ahead of several notable nations including China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt in overall living standards.
The assessment methodology was notably comprehensive, incorporating six major indicators weighted according to their perceived importance to quality of life. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals carried the highest weight at 30%, followed by Cost of Living and Freedom in the World at 20% each. Environmental Performance, Happiness Score, and Migrant Acceptance each contributed 10% to the final ranking.
This poor performance comes at a time when Nigeria grapples with severe economic challenges, including high inflation, currency depreciation, and widespread infrastructure deficits. The ranking suggests that these economic difficulties are having a tangible impact on citizens’ daily lives and the country’s international attractiveness.
The index’s findings paint a particularly stark picture when compared to global leaders in quality of life. European nations dominated the top positions, with Sweden, Finland, Germany, Denmark, and Spain occupying the first five spots. This disparity highlights the significant gap Nigeria must bridge to provide its citizens with internationally competitive living standards.
The report’s timing is particularly relevant as countries worldwide compete to attract and retain talent and investment. Poor quality of life rankings can significantly impact a nation’s ability to attract skilled professionals and international investment, potentially creating a negative cycle that further hampers development efforts.
For Nigerian policymakers, the report presents both challenges and opportunities. While the low ranking is concerning, the detailed breakdown of contributing factors provides a roadmap for targeted improvements. The strong showing in migrant acceptance, for instance, could be leveraged to attract international talent and investment, provided other quality of life factors are addressed.
The findings also raise questions about Nigeria’s progress toward meeting its international development commitments, particularly regarding the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. With this category carrying the highest weight in the index, Nigeria’s poor performance suggests significant work remains to achieve these crucial global benchmarks.
As Nigeria continues its efforts to position itself as Africa’s leading economy, this quality of life assessment serves as a sobering reminder that economic growth alone does not guarantee improved living standards for citizens. The challenge now lies in translating any economic gains into tangible improvements in the daily lives of its population.
