Moniepoint Unveils 2025 Informal Economy Report, Launches AI Chatbot for Deeper Economic Insights

On October 20, 2025, Moniepoint  released its 2025 Informal Economy Report, a follow-up to its earlier study of Nigeria’s informal sector. This new edition takes a more ambitious approach, expanding the research scope and introducing new tools to help stakeholders understand the realities and challenges of informal businesses across the country. The report continues Moniepoint’s mission to highlight the critical role that informal enterprises play in Nigeria’s economy and to provide actionable insights that can shape inclusive financial and policy interventions.

A major highlight of the 2025 report is the introduction of “M,” Moniepoint’s new AI-powered chatbot designed to provide direct access to the data behind the report. With this tool, policymakers, regulators, investors, and researchers can ask questions and instantly uncover insights that may not be included in the published document. This innovation represents Moniepoint’s effort to make data on Nigeria’s informal economy more interactive, accessible, and useful for those driving decisions in finance and development.

The report also provides a clearer picture of how informal businesses are adapting to Nigeria’s changing economic conditions. According to the findings, 79% of informal businesses have faced increased costs of operation over the past year. While 65% reported higher revenue, only 47% experienced an increase in profits, signaling that rising expenses are eroding gains and threatening sustainability. These figures reflect the economic pressures faced by small and micro-enterprises, underscoring the need for policies that address inflation, access to credit, and business support systems.

Beyond the data, Moniepoint has added a human dimension to this year’s report through an accompanying documentary series. The series features the real stories of individuals working within Nigeria’s informal economy. The first episode tells the story of Yiteovie, a woman who taught herself to fish to provide for her family. By combining storytelling with data, Moniepoint aims to bring the human impact of the informal economy to the forefront, showing the resilience and innovation that drive millions of livelihoods.

Ultimately, the report reinforces that Nigeria’s informal economy remains the country’s largest source of employment, comprising more than 39 million businesses that collectively sustain millions of households. Moniepoint emphasizes that addressing the challenges these businesses face is one of the fastest ways to improve lives and strengthen the national economy. The company believes that access to data is a crucial first step toward empowering this sector. With its 2025 Informal Economy Report and the launch of the AI chatbot, Moniepoint continues to lead efforts in understanding and transforming Nigeria’s informal economy through technology, insight, and empathy.