Poverty affects both men and women in most rural households. The study therefore
examined the effects of poverty on rural household in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State,
Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 120 respondents. Data were
collected on socio economic characteristics, measurement of poverty and perception of poverty,
using structured interview schedule. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze
the data collected. The mean age of the respondents is 43, while majority (80.8%) of the
respondents were married with an average annual income of #181,291.67. The most severe
measurement of poverty is low income level (WMS = 1.58) while lack of access to good health is
a major way of perceiving poverty (WMS = 4.30) among the respondents. The findings of the
study also revealed that the major effect of poverty on household is low standard of living
(98.3%). A significant relationship was found between age (r = .018*, p = 0.05), household size
(r = .025**, p = 0.01), level of income (r = -.068**, p = 0.01) and the effects of poverty. The
study therefore recommends that Government should invest more in farming especially in rural
areas to increase the purchasing power of households. Also to provide finance for investment so
as to increase the rural income level and thereby improving their standard of living.