Behind every statistic is a human story, and the staggering fact that over 700 million people today survive on less than what a cup of coffee costs is a profound testament to the global challenge of extreme poverty.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms, accounting for 8.7% of the global population
- As of 2022, the global extreme poverty rate stood at 8.5%, with a total of 689 million people affected, down from 1.9 billion in 1990
- In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 648 million people were in extreme poverty globally, representing 8.4% of the world population using the $1.90/day line (updated to $2.15)
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, 429 million people (35%) lived in extreme poverty in 2022, hosting nearly 60% of the world's poor
- South Asia had 207 million in extreme poverty in 2022 (10.4% rate), down from higher levels pre-pandemic
- In East Asia and Pacific, extreme poverty affected 24 million people (0.5%) in 2022, a remarkable decline
- Niger had the highest multidimensional poverty rate at 74.8% in 2023 MPI
- Globally, multidimensional poverty headcount was 19.1% in 2023, with 1.1 billion poor, intense deprivation average 44.3%
- In India, 16.4% (234 million) multidimensionally poor in 2019-21, down from 55% in 2005-06
- In 2022, 333 million children under 5 (one in six) stunted due to poverty-related malnutrition
- 148 million children under 5 stunted in 2022, 35 million wasted, mostly in poorest households
- 258 million children out of school globally in 2023, 60% from poorest quintiles
- Since 1990, 1.1 billion people escaped extreme poverty, fastest decline 2000-2015 at 1% annually
- COVID-19 pushed 70-95 million extra into extreme poverty in 2020, largest reversal since 1990
- Extreme poverty share fell from 38% in 1990 to 8.7% in 2023, but absolute numbers stagnant post-2014
Progress against extreme poverty is real but has stalled recently.
Child and Vulnerable Groups Poverty
- In 2022, 333 million children under 5 (one in six) stunted due to poverty-related malnutrition
- 148 million children under 5 stunted in 2022, 35 million wasted, mostly in poorest households
- 258 million children out of school globally in 2023, 60% from poorest quintiles
- Child poverty rate at $2.15/day was 12.8% globally in 2022, affecting 242 million children
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, 77% of children under 5 multidimensionally poor in 2023
- 356 million children in extreme poverty in 2022, nearly half of all poor
- Adolescent girls in poorest households 3x more likely to marry before 18, 12 million/year
- 1 in 10 children globally in monetary poverty, but 1 in 5 multidimensionally poor
- In South Asia, 78 million children stunted, highest regional burden linked to poverty
- Elderly poverty affects 133 million over 60 globally, 12.3% rate, rising with urbanization
- Female-headed households 20-30% more likely to be poor in developing countries
- Indigenous peoples 19% of world's poor despite 5% population, MPI 2x national averages
- Refugees and IDPs: 117 million forcibly displaced in 2024, 80% in low-income countries, poverty rates 50%+
- Disabled individuals 15-20% more likely to live in poverty globally
- In LDCs, 40% of women in poorest wealth quintile vs 25% men, gender poverty gap
Child and Vulnerable Groups Poverty Interpretation
Even as we meticulously chart the cosmos and engineer artificial minds, our collective conscience is still failing the most basic of earthly tests, leaving a third of a billion young children physically diminished by hunger and nearly half of humanity's entire poor population under the age of eighteen.
Global Poverty Rates
- In 2023, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms, accounting for 8.7% of the global population
- As of 2022, the global extreme poverty rate stood at 8.5%, with a total of 689 million people affected, down from 1.9 billion in 1990
- In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 648 million people were in extreme poverty globally, representing 8.4% of the world population using the $1.90/day line (updated to $2.15)
- Extreme poverty affected 9.3% of the global population in 2020 due to pandemic impacts, pushing an additional 97 million people into poverty
- By 2023 estimates, 658 million people remained in extreme poverty, with projections indicating a rate of 7.2% by 2030 if trends continue
- The global poverty rate at $3.65/day (lower-middle-income line) was 23.8% in 2022, affecting about 1.9 billion people
- In 2022, 46% of the world's population lived below the $6.85/day upper-middle-income poverty line, totaling 3.7 billion individuals
- Multidimensional poverty affected 1.1 billion people in 2021, or 18% of the global population across health, education, and living standards
- In 2023, 2.8 billion people globally (one-third of humanity) lived on less than $6.85 per day, struggling with basic needs
- Global hunger affected 735 million people in 2022, linked closely to poverty levels, with 29.6% of the world undernourished
- 3.7 billion people (47%) lived in extreme or moderate poverty in 2022, below $6.85/day, per World Bank data
- In 2015, 734 million were in extreme poverty at $1.90/day, reduced to 689 million by 2022 despite population growth
- The international poverty line was updated to $2.15/day in September 2022, revising historical rates slightly upward
- 8.4% extreme poverty rate in 2019 dropped to 8.7% in 2020-2022 average due to COVID-19 reversals
- By 2030, extreme poverty is projected to affect 575-622 million people, depending on growth scenarios
- In 2023, 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms, accounting for 8.7% of the global population
- As of 2022, the global extreme poverty rate stood at 8.5%, with a total of 689 million people affected, down from 1.9 billion in 1990
- In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 648 million people were in extreme poverty globally, representing 8.4% of the world population using the $1.90/day line (updated to $2.15)
- Extreme poverty affected 9.3% of the global population in 2020 due to pandemic impacts, pushing an additional 97 million people into poverty
- By 2023 estimates, 658 million people remained in extreme poverty, with projections indicating a rate of 7.2% by 2030 if trends continue
- The global poverty rate at $3.65/day (lower-middle-income line) was 23.8% in 2022, affecting about 1.9 billion people
- In 2022, 46% of the world's population lived below the $6.85/day upper-middle-income poverty line, totaling 3.7 billion individuals
- Multidimensional poverty affected 1.1 billion people in 2021, or 18% of the global population across health, education, and living standards
Global Poverty Rates Interpretation
The metrics show a slow and painful retreat of extreme poverty, but its stubborn persistence in a world of such immense wealth remains an obscenity that statisticians can measure and humanity must confront.
Multidimensional Poverty
- Niger had the highest multidimensional poverty rate at 74.8% in 2023 MPI
- Globally, multidimensional poverty headcount was 19.1% in 2023, with 1.1 billion poor, intense deprivation average 44.3%
- In India, 16.4% (234 million) multidimensionally poor in 2019-21, down from 55% in 2005-06
- Sub-Saharan Africa MPI poverty rate 53.7% in 2023, affecting 589 million
- South Asia MPI 25.2%, 385 million poor in 2023, with high deprivations in sanitation
- 644 million multidimensionally poor lacked electricity in 2023, nearly 60% of all poor
- Child multidimensional poverty affected 666 million children globally (27.7%) in 2023
- In Ethiopia, MPI intensity was 48.1% in 2019, with 68% poor
- Pakistan MPI poverty 38.3% (83 million) in 2019-20, high in education and assets
- Nigeria MPI 63% (133 million), worst deprivations in sanitation and housing
- Globally, 67% of multidimensionally poor lived in rural areas in 2023 MPI
- 188 million poor deprived in nutrition, contributing to 1.3 years lost in HDI
- In Latin America, MPI poverty low at 3.8%, but indigenous groups 2-3x higher
- 450 million poor deprived in clean cooking fuel globally in 2023
- Haiti MPI 51.4% in 2012, with 79% intensity, highest in Americas
Multidimensional Poverty Interpretation
Niger's staggering 75% multidimensional poverty rate stands as a grim, sobering outlier, yet the global portrait is one of 1.1 billion people—two-thirds in rural areas—locked in a punishing cycle where, for instance, lacking electricity or clean cooking fuel isn't just an inconvenience but a core deprivation that stunts human potential from childhood.
Regional and Country-Specific Poverty
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, 429 million people (35%) lived in extreme poverty in 2022, hosting nearly 60% of the world's poor
- South Asia had 207 million in extreme poverty in 2022 (10.4% rate), down from higher levels pre-pandemic
- In East Asia and Pacific, extreme poverty affected 24 million people (0.5%) in 2022, a remarkable decline
- Latin America and Caribbean saw 26 million in extreme poverty (4.1%) in 2022, with rates varying by country
- Middle East and North Africa had 60 million in extreme poverty (9.4%) in 2022, impacted by conflicts
- Europe and Central Asia extreme poverty at 2.8% (12 million people) in 2022, lowest among regions
- In Nigeria, 87 million people (40% of population) lived below $1.90/day in 2022 estimates
- India reduced extreme poverty from 22% in 2011 to under 5% by 2022, lifting 415 million out since 2005
- Democratic Republic of Congo had 74% extreme poverty rate (62 million people) in 2022
- Ethiopia's extreme poverty rate was 30.8% (36 million) in 2022, affected by droughts and conflict
- In Pakistan, 39.3% (89 million) lived below national poverty line in 2022-23, with multidimensional poverty at 38.3%
- Bangladesh extreme poverty at 0.9% (1.6 million) in 2022, a success story from 44.2% in 2000
- Yemen had 76.6% extreme poverty (23 million) in 2022 due to ongoing war
- In Mozambique, 64% (18 million) in extreme poverty in 2022, worsened by cyclones and insurgency
- Afghanistan's poverty rate exceeded 90% post-2021, affecting 24 million needing aid
Regional and Country-Specific Poverty Interpretation
These statistics paint a global map where progress and catastrophe exist side-by-side, starkly revealing that while the world can collectively win the war on poverty, for millions in places like Sub-Saharan Africa and conflict zones, the battle is not only being lost but is intensifying.
Trends and Projections
- Since 1990, 1.1 billion people escaped extreme poverty, fastest decline 2000-2015 at 1% annually
- COVID-19 pushed 70-95 million extra into extreme poverty in 2020, largest reversal since 1990
- Extreme poverty share fell from 38% in 1990 to 8.7% in 2023, but absolute numbers stagnant post-2014
- To eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, need 3% annual decline, but current 0.5-1%, off-track SDG1
- Climate change may push 26-40 million more into poverty by 2030, via reduced growth
- Projections: 7.3% global extreme poverty by 2030 (622 million), concentrated in SSA
- Post-COVID recovery: poverty reduction slowed to 0.65 pp/year 2013-2019 vs 1% before
- Inequality slowed poverty decline; Gini coefficient global 38.5 in 2022
- Food prices inflation added 75 million to hunger/poverty in 2022
- By 2050, without action, 158 million more in poverty due to climate shocks
- China lifted 800 million from poverty since 1978, accounting for 75% global decline 1990-2015
- Sub-Saharan Africa poverty projected to rise to 87% of global poor by 2030 from 60%
- Digital inclusion could lift 1 billion from poverty by 2025, per projections
- War in Ukraine added 71 million to extreme poverty temporarily in 2022
- Optimistic scenario: extreme poverty to 3% by 2050 with sustained growth
Trends and Projections Interpretation
We were sprinting toward a finish line of eradicating extreme poverty until a global pandemic tripped us, climate change began dismantling the track ahead, and now we’re left limping forward while history books threaten to remember our era as the time we had the solutions but lacked the collective will to fully cross the goal.
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