Imagine over seven hundred million people, more than the entire population of Europe, surviving on less than the price of a cup of coffee each day—this is the staggering reality of extreme poverty in 2022, a crisis where progress is being heartbreakingly eroded by pandemics, conflict, and climate shocks.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms
- Extreme poverty affected 8.5% of the global population in 2022, down from 10% in 2019 but up due to COVID-19 impacts
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 67% of the world's extreme poor in 2022, with 429 million people under $2.15/day
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 29.6% extreme poverty rate in 2019, home to 413 million poor
- South Asia's extreme poverty rate dropped to 5.9% in 2022 from 14.1% in 2015
- In Latin America and Caribbean, extreme poverty was 3.1% in 2022, affecting 19 million
- Nigeria had 87 million in extreme poverty in 2022, 40% of national population
- India reduced extreme poverty to 10% by 2019 from 22% in 2011, lifting 415 million
- DR Congo had 74% extreme poverty rate in 2022, 64 million poor
- Children represent 50% of extreme poor in Nigeria, 44 million under 18
- Globally, 333 million children live in extreme poverty, 9.4% of under-18s
- Women and girls are 70% of those in extreme poverty in fragile contexts
- Extreme poverty declined 1.17 percentage points annually 1990-2015 globally
- From 2013-2019, global extreme poverty reduction slowed to 0.6% points/year
- SSA extreme poverty rose from 28.4% in 2000 to 35.2% in 2022
Extreme poverty persists but has fallen globally, though progress is uneven and fragile.
Country-Specific Data
- Nigeria had 87 million in extreme poverty in 2022, 40% of national population
- India reduced extreme poverty to 10% by 2019 from 22% in 2011, lifting 415 million
- DR Congo had 74% extreme poverty rate in 2022, 64 million poor
- Pakistan's extreme poverty rose to 39.4% in 2020 due to floods and COVID
- Ethiopia had 27.5% extreme poverty in 2019, 32 million affected pre-conflict spike
- Bangladesh lifted 25 million from extreme poverty 2010-2019, rate to 13.8%
- Yemen extreme poverty at 80% in 2022 amid war, 24 million in need
- Afghanistan post-2021 saw extreme poverty surge to 97% of population
- Haiti extreme poverty 58.5% in 2020, worsened by gangs and quakes
- Mozambique 66% extreme poverty in 2022, 18 million poor due to cyclones
- Madagascar extreme poverty 75% in 2022, highest globally, 20 million affected
- Niger 45% extreme poverty rate, 10 million poor in 2022
- Uganda 20.3% extreme poverty in 2019/20, 8.7 million poor
- Tanzania reduced extreme poverty to 26% in 2018 from 43% in 2007
- Kenya extreme poverty 33% in rural areas, 16 million total poor 2022 est.
- Sudan extreme poverty 50% pre-2023 war, now estimated 80%
- Somalia 73% extreme poverty, 11 million poor in 2022
- South Sudan 82% extreme poverty rate, 9 million affected
- Burkina Faso 40% extreme poverty, 8.5 million poor amid jihadist violence
- Mali 45% extreme poverty in 2022, 9 million in poverty
- Zambia 54% extreme poverty in 2022, 10 million poor post-droughts
- Zimbabwe 38% extreme poverty, 6 million poor due to hyperinflation legacy
Country-Specific Data Interpretation
This sobering gallery of statistics reveals a world of heartbreaking contrasts, where monumental progress in some nations is tragically mirrored by catastrophic regress in others, proving that the fight against poverty is not only a matter of policy but a relentless race against disaster.
Global Prevalence
- In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms
- Extreme poverty affected 8.5% of the global population in 2022, down from 10% in 2019 but up due to COVID-19 impacts
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 67% of the world's extreme poor in 2022, with 429 million people under $2.15/day
- Between 2015 and 2019, global extreme poverty declined by 103 million people, but rose by 70 million from 2020-2022 due to pandemics and conflicts
- In 2019, 648 million people were in extreme poverty globally, representing 9.2% of the world population
- Extreme poverty rates stood at 1.2% in East Asia and Pacific in 2022, compared to 35% in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Globally, 59% of extreme poor lived in just five countries in 2022: Nigeria, DR Congo, India, Pakistan, and Ethiopia
- The number of extreme poor increased by 30 million in 2020 alone due to COVID-19 economic shocks
- In 2022, extreme poverty was concentrated in rural areas, with 80% of the extreme poor residing there globally
- Global extreme poverty headcount ratio was 8.7% in 2021, affecting over 700 million people
- From 1990 to 2019, extreme poverty fell from 38% to 9.5% globally, lifting over 1.2 billion people out
- In 2023 estimates, 691 million people remain in extreme poverty, with projections to 575 million by 2030 if trends continue
- Extreme poverty in LDCs averaged 16.8% in 2022, home to 40% of the global extreme poor
- Globally, children under 18 make up 33% of the extreme poor despite being 32% of population
- In 2022, 75% of extreme poor lived in middle-income countries
- Extreme poverty cost the global economy $2.8 trillion in lost productivity in 2020
- In 2015, SDG baseline showed 734 million in extreme poverty
- Global extreme poverty is now lower than at any point in history, at under 10% since 2019
- 2022 saw 8.4% extreme poverty rate, with 707 million affected
- Extreme poverty in conflict-affected countries averaged 40% in 2022
- Globally, female-headed households face 10% higher extreme poverty risk
- In 2022, 83% of extreme poor lived in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia combined
- Extreme poverty among indigenous peoples is 3 times the national average globally
- 2020 pandemic pushed 97 million more into extreme poverty globally
- Global extreme poverty projected at 7.2% by 2030 under current trends
- In 2022, 9.1% of world population under $2.15/day
- Extreme poverty affects 1 in 10 people worldwide as of latest 2022 data
- Global share in extreme poverty was 8.9% in 2020
- 689 million in extreme poverty in 2023 preliminary estimates
- Extreme poverty now urbanizing, with 28% of poor in cities in 2022 vs 12% in 1990
Global Prevalence Interpretation
While we’ve heroically dragged over a billion people from the brink since 1990, the fight against extreme poverty has become a frustrating game of whack-a-mole, where two steps of hard-won progress are so often met with one devastating step back from pandemics, conflicts, and a stubbornly concentrated burden in places like Sub-Saharan Africa.
Regional Statistics
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 29.6% extreme poverty rate in 2019, home to 413 million poor
- South Asia's extreme poverty rate dropped to 5.9% in 2022 from 14.1% in 2015
- In Latin America and Caribbean, extreme poverty was 3.1% in 2022, affecting 19 million
- Middle East and North Africa saw extreme poverty rise to 6.7% in 2022 due to conflicts
- East Asia and Pacific region's extreme poverty at 1.1% in 2022, with 21 million poor
- Europe and Central Asia had 1.4% extreme poverty rate in 2022, lowest among regions
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, extreme poverty increased by 36 million from 2015-2022
- South Asia lifted 242 million out of extreme poverty between 2015-2019
- Latin America's extreme poverty doubled during COVID to 6.5% in 2020 before partial recovery
- Fragile states in MENA have 23% extreme poverty vs 2% in stable ones
- East Asia reduced extreme poverty from 17% in 2000 to under 2% by 2022
- Sub-Saharan West Africa had 39% extreme poverty in 2022, highest sub-regional rate
- South Asia's rural extreme poverty at 6.5% vs urban 3.2% in 2022
- In LAC, indigenous populations face 10.6% extreme poverty vs 2.8% non-indigenous
- Central Asia's extreme poverty stable at 1.5% post-2020 shocks
- Pacific Islands extreme poverty at 5.2% in 2022, driven by climate vulnerability
- Horn of Africa sub-region had over 50% extreme poverty in 2022 due to drought
- Andean LAC countries averaged 4.1% extreme poverty vs 2.5% in Southern Cone
- Sahel region in SSA at 42% extreme poverty, affecting 45 million
- East and Southern Africa 32% extreme poverty rate in 2022
- Southeast Asia extreme poverty below 1% in 2022, led by Vietnam and Indonesia reductions
- North Africa extreme poverty at 1.8%, but fragile areas like Yemen at 80%
- West Asia non-GCC countries 12% extreme poverty in 2022
- Caribbean small states extreme poverty 10.5% post-hurricanes
- Southern Africa extreme poverty 18% in 2022, down from 25% in 2010
- Central America extreme poverty 12.3% in 2022, driven by migration and gangs
Regional Statistics Interpretation
While some regions have turned the tide against extreme poverty, Sub-Saharan Africa remains a stubborn and heartbreaking exception, serving as a stark reminder that global progress is not a guarantee without peace, stability, and targeted investment.
Trends Over Time
- Extreme poverty declined 1.17 percentage points annually 1990-2015 globally
- From 2013-2019, global extreme poverty reduction slowed to 0.6% points/year
- SSA extreme poverty rose from 28.4% in 2000 to 35.2% in 2022
- China lifted 800 million from extreme poverty 1981-2020, rate from 88% to 0%
- Global extreme poverty to miss SDG1 by 2030, projected 7.3% vs 3% target
- 1990-2015 saw 1.3 billion escape extreme poverty, fastest reduction ever
- COVID reversed 4 years of progress, adding 100 million poor 2020-2021
- India extreme poverty from 45% in 1993 to 6% in 2011 per new surveys
- SSA needs 3% annual GDP growth + equity to halve poverty by 2030
- Extreme poverty urbanization increased from 12% in 1990 to 28% in 2020
- Female-male poverty gap widened post-COVID, from 8% to 12% in LDCs
- Conflict drove 50% of poverty increase since 2015
- Digital inclusion lifted 100 million from poverty traps 2015-2022
- Climate shocks added 26 million to extreme poverty yearly avg 2010-2020
- Social protection covered 45% of extreme poor in 2022 vs 18% in 2010
- Remittances reduced extreme poverty by 40 million globally 2000-2020
- Agricultural productivity growth cut rural poverty 2.5% annually 2000-2015
- Extreme poverty among children fell 50% 2000-2019 but stalled post-2020
- Projected 622 million in extreme poverty by 2030, 84% in SSA
- Education enrollment of poor children up 20% since 2000, aiding poverty exit
Trends Over Time Interpretation
While the world's sprint against extreme poverty has slowed to a crawl—and even reversed in some regions—it's clear that the finish line for truly ending it has moved frustratingly far down the road, leaving us to grapple with the stubborn resilience of inequality, conflict, and climate shocks.
Vulnerable Populations
- Children represent 50% of extreme poor in Nigeria, 44 million under 18
- Globally, 333 million children live in extreme poverty, 9.4% of under-18s
- Women and girls are 70% of those in extreme poverty in fragile contexts
- Indigenous peoples comprise 6% of world population but 19% of extreme poor
- Rural women face 21% higher extreme poverty risk than urban women
- 80 million extreme poor children suffer from stunting due to poverty
- Female-headed households in SSA have 28% extreme poverty rate vs 22% male-headed
- Refugees and IDPs number 100 million, 70% in extreme poverty
- Elderly in extreme poverty: 50 million globally, often invisible in data
- Disabled persons 4 times more likely to be in extreme poverty, 32% rate vs 8% general
- Ethnic minorities in Asia face 2-3x extreme poverty rates, e.g., Rohingya 90%
- Youth (15-24) unemployment in extreme poor households averages 40% in LDCs
- Single mothers head 15% of extreme poor households globally
- Pastoralists and fisherfolk 20% more likely extreme poor than farmers
- LGBTQ+ individuals face 15-20% higher extreme poverty due to discrimination
- Orphaned children 3x more likely in extreme poverty, 50 million affected
- Landless laborers 60% of rural extreme poor in South Asia
- People with HIV/AIDS households 25% more poverty prone
- Nomadic communities 40% extreme poverty in Sahel
- Street children number 100 million globally, all in extreme poverty
- Farmers smallholders 500 million households, 80% in extreme poverty trap
Vulnerable Populations Interpretation
If this data were a monster, its favorite meal would be our most vulnerable, devouring futures with a particular appetite for children, women, and anyone already pushed to the margins.
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