712 million people live on less than 2.15 dollars a day. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 67 percent of that total. Some countries have cut extreme poverty rates sharply while others have recorded large increases.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Despite progress, about 712 million people lived in extreme poverty in 2022, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Related reading
01 · Category
Country-Specific Data22 stats
01
Nigeria had 87 million in extreme poverty in 2022, 40% of national population
02
India reduced extreme poverty to 10% by 2019 from 22% in 2011, lifting 415 million
03
DR Congo had 74% extreme poverty rate in 2022, 64 million poor
04
Pakistan's extreme poverty rose to 39.4% in 2020 due to floods and COVID
05
Ethiopia had 27.5% extreme poverty in 2019, 32 million affected pre-conflict spike
06
Bangladesh lifted 25 million from extreme poverty 2010-2019, rate to 13.8%
07
Yemen extreme poverty at 80% in 2022 amid war, 24 million in need
08
Afghanistan post-2021 saw extreme poverty surge to 97% of population
09
Haiti extreme poverty 58.5% in 2020, worsened by gangs and quakes
10
Mozambique 66% extreme poverty in 2022, 18 million poor due to cyclones
11
Madagascar extreme poverty 75% in 2022, highest globally, 20 million affected
12
Niger 45% extreme poverty rate, 10 million poor in 2022
13
Uganda 20.3% extreme poverty in 2019/20, 8.7 million poor
14
Tanzania reduced extreme poverty to 26% in 2018 from 43% in 2007
15
Kenya extreme poverty 33% in rural areas, 16 million total poor 2022 est.
16
Sudan extreme poverty 50% pre-2023 war, now estimated 80%
17
Somalia 73% extreme poverty, 11 million poor in 2022
18
South Sudan 82% extreme poverty rate, 9 million affected
19
Burkina Faso 40% extreme poverty, 8.5 million poor amid jihadist violence
20
Mali 45% extreme poverty in 2022, 9 million in poverty
21
Zambia 54% extreme poverty in 2022, 10 million poor post-droughts
22
Zimbabwe 38% extreme poverty, 6 million poor due to hyperinflation legacy
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Global Prevalence30 stats
01
In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms
02
Extreme poverty affected 8.5% of the global population in 2022, down from 10% in 2019 but up due to COVID-19 impacts
03
Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 67% of the world's extreme poor in 2022, with 429 million people under $2.15/day
04
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
05
In 2019, 648 million people were in extreme poverty globally, representing 9.2% of the world population
06
Extreme poverty rates stood at 1.2% in East Asia and Pacific in 2022, compared to 35% in Sub-Saharan Africa
07
Globally, 59% of extreme poor lived in just five countries in 2022: Nigeria, DR Congo, India, Pakistan, and Ethiopia
08
The number of extreme poor increased by 30 million in 2020 alone due to COVID-19 economic shocks
09
In 2022, extreme poverty was concentrated in rural areas, with 80% of the extreme poor residing there globally
10
Global extreme poverty headcount ratio was 8.7% in 2021, affecting over 700 million people
11
From 1990 to 2019, extreme poverty fell from 38% to 9.5% globally, lifting over 1.2 billion people out
12
In 2023 estimates, 691 million people remain in extreme poverty, with projections to 575 million by 2030 if trends continue
13
Extreme poverty in LDCs averaged 16.8% in 2022, home to 40% of the global extreme poor
14
Globally, children under 18 make up 33% of the extreme poor despite being 32% of population
15
In 2022, 75% of extreme poor lived in middle-income countries
16
Extreme poverty cost the global economy $2.8 trillion in lost productivity in 2020
17
In 2015, SDG baseline showed 734 million in extreme poverty
18
Global extreme poverty is now lower than at any point in history, at under 10% since 2019
19
2022 saw 8.4% extreme poverty rate, with 707 million affected
20
Extreme poverty in conflict-affected countries averaged 40% in 2022
21
Globally, female-headed households face 10% higher extreme poverty risk
22
In 2022, 83% of extreme poor lived in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia combined
23
Extreme poverty among indigenous peoples is 3 times the national average globally
24
2020 pandemic pushed 97 million more into extreme poverty globally
25
Global extreme poverty projected at 7.2% by 2030 under current trends
26
In 2022, 9.1% of world population under $2.15/day
27
Extreme poverty affects 1 in 10 people worldwide as of latest 2022 data
28
Global share in extreme poverty was 8.9% in 2020
29
689 million in extreme poverty in 2023 preliminary estimates
30
Extreme poverty now urbanizing, with 28% of poor in cities in 2022 vs 12% in 1990
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Regional Statistics26 stats
01
Sub-Saharan Africa had 29.6% extreme poverty rate in 2019, home to 413 million poor
02
South Asia's extreme poverty rate dropped to 5.9% in 2022 from 14.1% in 2015
03
In Latin America and Caribbean, extreme poverty was 3.1% in 2022, affecting 19 million
04
Middle East and North Africa saw extreme poverty rise to 6.7% in 2022 due to conflicts
05
East Asia and Pacific region's extreme poverty at 1.1% in 2022, with 21 million poor
06
Europe and Central Asia had 1.4% extreme poverty rate in 2022, lowest among regions
07
In Sub-Saharan Africa, extreme poverty increased by 36 million from 2015-2022
08
South Asia lifted 242 million out of extreme poverty between 2015-2019
09
Latin America's extreme poverty doubled during COVID to 6.5% in 2020 before partial recovery
10
Fragile states in MENA have 23% extreme poverty vs 2% in stable ones
11
East Asia reduced extreme poverty from 17% in 2000 to under 2% by 2022
12
Sub-Saharan West Africa had 39% extreme poverty in 2022, highest sub-regional rate
13
South Asia's rural extreme poverty at 6.5% vs urban 3.2% in 2022
14
In LAC, indigenous populations face 10.6% extreme poverty vs 2.8% non-indigenous
15
Central Asia's extreme poverty stable at 1.5% post-2020 shocks
16
Pacific Islands extreme poverty at 5.2% in 2022, driven by climate vulnerability
17
Horn of Africa sub-region had over 50% extreme poverty in 2022 due to drought
18
Andean LAC countries averaged 4.1% extreme poverty vs 2.5% in Southern Cone
19
Sahel region in SSA at 42% extreme poverty, affecting 45 million
20
East and Southern Africa 32% extreme poverty rate in 2022
21
Southeast Asia extreme poverty below 1% in 2022, led by Vietnam and Indonesia reductions
22
North Africa extreme poverty at 1.8%, but fragile areas like Yemen at 80%
23
West Asia non-GCC countries 12% extreme poverty in 2022
24
Caribbean small states extreme poverty 10.5% post-hurricanes
25
Southern Africa extreme poverty 18% in 2022, down from 25% in 2010
26
Central America extreme poverty 12.3% in 2022, driven by migration and gangs
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trends Over Time20 stats
01
Extreme poverty declined 1.17 percentage points annually 1990-2015 globally
02
From 2013-2019, global extreme poverty reduction slowed to 0.6% points/year
03
SSA extreme poverty rose from 28.4% in 2000 to 35.2% in 2022
04
China lifted 800 million from extreme poverty 1981-2020, rate from 88% to 0%
05
Global extreme poverty to miss SDG1 by 2030, projected 7.3% vs 3% target
06
1990-2015 saw 1.3 billion escape extreme poverty, fastest reduction ever
07
COVID reversed 4 years of progress, adding 100 million poor 2020-2021
08
India extreme poverty from 45% in 1993 to 6% in 2011 per new surveys
09
SSA needs 3% annual GDP growth + equity to halve poverty by 2030
10
Extreme poverty urbanization increased from 12% in 1990 to 28% in 2020
11
Female-male poverty gap widened post-COVID, from 8% to 12% in LDCs
12
Conflict drove 50% of poverty increase since 2015
13
Digital inclusion lifted 100 million from poverty traps 2015-2022
14
Climate shocks added 26 million to extreme poverty yearly avg 2010-2020
15
Social protection covered 45% of extreme poor in 2022 vs 18% in 2010
16
Remittances reduced extreme poverty by 40 million globally 2000-2020
17
Agricultural productivity growth cut rural poverty 2.5% annually 2000-2015
18
Extreme poverty among children fell 50% 2000-2019 but stalled post-2020
19
Projected 622 million in extreme poverty by 2030, 84% in SSA
20
Education enrollment of poor children up 20% since 2000, aiding poverty exit
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Vulnerable Populations21 stats
01
Children represent 50% of extreme poor in Nigeria, 44 million under 18
02
Globally, 333 million children live in extreme poverty, 9.4% of under-18s
03
Women and girls are 70% of those in extreme poverty in fragile contexts
04
Indigenous peoples comprise 6% of world population but 19% of extreme poor
05
Rural women face 21% higher extreme poverty risk than urban women
06
80 million extreme poor children suffer from stunting due to poverty
07
Female-headed households in SSA have 28% extreme poverty rate vs 22% male-headed
08
Refugees and IDPs number 100 million, 70% in extreme poverty
09
Elderly in extreme poverty: 50 million globally, often invisible in data
10
Disabled persons 4 times more likely to be in extreme poverty, 32% rate vs 8% general
11
Ethnic minorities in Asia face 2-3x extreme poverty rates, e.g., Rohingya 90%
12
Youth (15-24) unemployment in extreme poor households averages 40% in LDCs
13
Single mothers head 15% of extreme poor households globally
14
Pastoralists and fisherfolk 20% more likely extreme poor than farmers
15
LGBTQ+ individuals face 15-20% higher extreme poverty due to discrimination
16
Orphaned children 3x more likely in extreme poverty, 50 million affected
17
Landless laborers 60% of rural extreme poor in South Asia
18
People with HIV/AIDS households 25% more poverty prone
19
Nomadic communities 40% extreme poverty in Sahel
20
Street children number 100 million globally, all in extreme poverty
21
Farmers smallholders 500 million households, 80% in extreme poverty trap
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Extreme Poverty Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/extreme-poverty-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Extreme Poverty Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/extreme-poverty-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Extreme Poverty Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/extreme-poverty-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level