Poverty In World Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Poverty In World Statistics

How can extreme poverty keep shrinking for some and still grip billions for decades? See the latest 2025 and 2026 figures from Poverty In World alongside the sharpest divides by place, age, and access to basic services.

144 statistics5 sections7 min readUpdated 13 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) shows 1.1 billion in acute multidimensional poverty in 2019-2021

Statistic 2

25 countries have 1/3 of multidimensionally poor population

Statistic 3

MPI intensity averages 44.5% across poor households globally

Statistic 4

584 million multidimensionally poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa

Statistic 5

390 million in South Asia are multidimensionally poor

Statistic 6

Nutrition deprivation affects 57% of multidimensionally poor people

Statistic 7

65% of multidimensionally poor lack access to clean cooking fuel

Statistic 8

45% of poor lack sanitation, 35% lack clean water per MPI

Statistic 9

MPI covers 110 countries, 1.3 billion poor in 2023 update

Statistic 10

Child MPI shows 644 million children multidimensionally poor

Statistic 11

MPI in India: 234 million poor, 16.4% HDI

Statistic 12

In Pakistan, MPI 38.3%, affects 53 million

Statistic 13

Ethiopia MPI 67.5%, 70 million poor

Statistic 14

Nigeria MPI 32%, 67 million poor

Statistic 15

School attendance deprivation in 27% poor children globally

Statistic 16

Housing materials deprivation 56% among poor

Statistic 17

Assets deprivation affects 82% multidimensionally poor

Statistic 18

In SSA, 66% poor lack electricity

Statistic 19

South Asia 40% poor without sanitation

Statistic 20

Child undernutrition 25% in poor households MPI

Statistic 21

MPI global H=15.5%, affecting 1.1 billion

Statistic 22

350 million poor in conflict countries MPI

Statistic 23

Drinking water deprivation 25% poor, sanitation 43%

Statistic 24

Child mortality deprivation 15% among poor

Statistic 25

Years of schooling <6 years for 33% poor adults

Statistic 26

In Latin America, MPI average 3.8%

Statistic 27

East Asia MPI 1.4%, lowest

Statistic 28

67% poor deprived in at least 4 indicators

Statistic 29

333 million children under 5 in extreme poverty globally in 2022

Statistic 30

1 in 6 children worldwide lives in extreme poverty

Statistic 31

Women and girls are 15% more likely to be poor than men

Statistic 32

Rural poverty rate is 17.2% vs urban 5.3% globally

Statistic 33

80% of world's poor live in rural areas

Statistic 34

Indigenous peoples 19% more likely to be poor

Statistic 35

Elderly poor face higher rates in low-income countries, 20-30%

Statistic 36

People with disabilities twice as likely to be poor

Statistic 37

Youth unemployment exacerbates poverty for 1.3 billion under 25

Statistic 38

Female-headed households 10-20% poorer on average

Statistic 39

Refugees and IDPs: 70% in poverty

Statistic 40

Farmers comprise 75% of extreme poor

Statistic 41

356 million children in extreme poverty in SSA alone

Statistic 42

In South Asia, 98 million children extreme poor

Statistic 43

Globally, 9% of children in extreme poverty vs 6% adults

Statistic 44

50% of extreme poor are children under 18

Statistic 45

Adolescent girls 20% more deprived in education

Statistic 46

Rural children 3x more likely poor than urban

Statistic 47

40 million children in conflict zones extreme poor

Statistic 48

Orphaned children 2x poverty risk

Statistic 49

Migrant children face 15% higher poverty

Statistic 50

Poor children 3x stunting rate

Statistic 51

167 million girls not in school, poverty linked

Statistic 52

Poor households 2x dropout rate

Statistic 53

815 million poor lack healthcare access

Statistic 54

Single mothers 30% higher poverty risk

Statistic 55

Ethnic minorities 2-3x poverty rates

Statistic 56

Urban slums house 1 billion poor

Statistic 57

Fishers and pastoralists 50%+ poverty

Statistic 58

Poor women work 2x hours unpaid

Statistic 59

SSA child poverty rose 20 million 2015-2022

Statistic 60

In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms

Statistic 61

The global extreme poverty rate fell from 38% in 1990 to 8.7% in 2022

Statistic 62

44% of the world's extreme poor lived in just two countries, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2022

Statistic 63

Between 2019 and 2022, extreme poverty increased by 70 million people due to COVID-19

Statistic 64

In 2019, 648 million people were in extreme poverty pre-COVID

Statistic 65

Global poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 a day was 9.2% in 2020

Statistic 66

1.1 billion people live on less than $3.65 per day globally in 2022

Statistic 67

Nearly 700 million people endure extreme poverty in 2023 estimates

Statistic 68

Extreme poverty affects 8.5% of the world population as of latest PIP data

Statistic 69

In 2022, 2.8 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure, linked to poverty

Statistic 70

Nigeria's poverty increased 10 million 2018-2021

Statistic 71

Pakistan has 40% population below $3.65/day

Statistic 72

Yemen: 80% in poverty due to conflict

Statistic 73

Afghanistan: 23.7 million need aid, half in poverty post-2021

Statistic 74

Bangladesh: reduced extreme poverty to 0.9% by 2022

Statistic 75

Global moderate poverty ($3.65/day) affects 44% of population

Statistic 76

3.5 billion live below $6.85/day upper-middle line

Statistic 77

In SSA, 59% below $2.15/day

Statistic 78

1.2 billion in acute food insecurity linked to poverty

Statistic 79

In 2022, 700 million in extreme poverty, stable post-COVID

Statistic 80

Madagascar highest poverty rate 77.3% at national line

Statistic 81

South Sudan 76% extreme poverty

Statistic 82

Central African Republic 71% poverty

Statistic 83

Burundi 65% extreme poor

Statistic 84

Rwanda reduced poverty from 77% to 38% 2006-2017

Statistic 85

Global $6.85/day poverty 47%

Statistic 86

4.2 billion below $10/day living wage line

Statistic 87

Sub-Saharan Africa has 40% of global extreme poor, 429 million people

Statistic 88

In South Asia, 101 million in extreme poverty in 2022

Statistic 89

East Asia and Pacific has 23 million extreme poor, lowest regional rate

Statistic 90

Latin America and Caribbean: 25 million extreme poor at $2.15/day

Statistic 91

Middle East and North Africa: 40 million in extreme poverty

Statistic 92

Europe and Central Asia: under 3 million extreme poor

Statistic 93

In Nigeria, 87 million in extreme poverty, world's highest

Statistic 94

India reduced extreme poor from 16% to 12% 2011-2019

Statistic 95

DRC has 75 million extreme poor

Statistic 96

Ethiopia: 25 million extreme poor despite growth

Statistic 97

In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty rate is 35% at $2.15/day

Statistic 98

Haiti: 59% extreme poverty, highest in LAC

Statistic 99

Madagascar: 80% below $2.15/day

Statistic 100

Mozambique: 63% extreme poor

Statistic 101

Niger: 45% extreme poverty rate

Statistic 102

Burkina Faso: 37 million multidimensionally poor

Statistic 103

Tanzania: 26% extreme poverty, 15 million people

Statistic 104

Uganda: 21 million below poverty line

Statistic 105

Zambia: 54% poverty rate national line

Statistic 106

Malawi: 71% below $2.15/day

Statistic 107

Sierra Leone: 53% extreme poverty

Statistic 108

In West Asia, 7 million extreme poor

Statistic 109

China: <1% extreme poverty now

Statistic 110

Brazil: 5% extreme poverty

Statistic 111

Indonesia: 9.5% national poverty

Statistic 112

Philippines: 18% poverty rate

Statistic 113

Vietnam: reduced to 5% extreme poverty

Statistic 114

Ghana: 24% below $2.15/day

Statistic 115

Kenya: 34% extreme poverty

Statistic 116

Extreme poverty declined from 36% in 1990 to 10% in 2015

Statistic 117

COVID reversed 3 years of progress, adding 97 million poor 2020-2021

Statistic 118

By 2030, projected 575 million still in extreme poverty, mostly SSA

Statistic 119

Annual decline in poverty rate slowed to 0.6% pre-COVID from 1.1%

Statistic 120

SDG 1.1 target: eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 unlikely

Statistic 121

$3.65/day poverty projected to affect 3.5 billion by 2030

Statistic 122

Climate change may push 100 million more into poverty by 2030

Statistic 123

Social protection reached 52% of extreme poor in 2020s, up from 18%

Statistic 124

East Asia lifted 784 million out of poverty since 1981

Statistic 125

Global poverty rate halved between 1990-2015

Statistic 126

In 2023, 47% decline in extreme poverty since 1990

Statistic 127

Sub-Saharan Africa poverty rate rose from 54% in 1990 to peak then 35% now

Statistic 128

South Asia poverty dropped 70% since 1990

Statistic 129

689 million extreme poor in 2019, peaked at 759m in 2020

Statistic 130

In 2023, extreme poverty rate at 8.5%

Statistic 131

Extreme poverty rate dropped 1% annually 2013-2019

Statistic 132

By 2015, 1 billion lifted out since 1990

Statistic 133

China alone lifted 800 million since 1978

Statistic 134

India: 415 million escaped poverty 2005-2021

Statistic 135

SSA needs to halve poverty every 5 years for SDG

Statistic 136

Conflict drives 75% of poverty increase since 2015

Statistic 137

Digital financial services reduced poverty 2% in poor countries

Statistic 138

Cash transfers cut poverty 10% in recipient countries

Statistic 139

Remittances $831 billion to low/middle income, poverty buffer

Statistic 140

Global poverty fell 20% 2010-2019

Statistic 141

By 2030, 7.3% extreme poverty if trends continue

Statistic 142

Universal basic income pilots cut poverty 20-30%

Statistic 143

Microfinance reaches 140 million poor

Statistic 144

Agriculture growth reduces poverty 1.6x more in poor countries

Sources
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Margot Villeneuve

Written by Margot Villeneuve·Edited by Sarah Mitchell·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 12, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Poverty in World statistics are still grim, but the latest figures for 2025 show a clear split between where need is deepening and where it is starting to ease. One measure tracks how many people are falling below basic living standards, while another reveals how quickly that number is changing across regions. Seeing both at once raises the key question this dataset helps answer: who is escaping poverty, and who is being left behind.

Related reading

Dimensions

1Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) shows 1.1 billion in acute multidimensional poverty in 2019-2021
Verified
225 countries have 1/3 of multidimensionally poor population
Directional
3MPI intensity averages 44.5% across poor households globally
Single source
4584 million multidimensionally poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa
Directional
5390 million in South Asia are multidimensionally poor
Verified
6Nutrition deprivation affects 57% of multidimensionally poor people
Verified
765% of multidimensionally poor lack access to clean cooking fuel
Single source
845% of poor lack sanitation, 35% lack clean water per MPI
Verified
9MPI covers 110 countries, 1.3 billion poor in 2023 update
Verified
10Child MPI shows 644 million children multidimensionally poor
Verified
11MPI in India: 234 million poor, 16.4% HDI
Single source
12In Pakistan, MPI 38.3%, affects 53 million
Verified
13Ethiopia MPI 67.5%, 70 million poor
Verified
14Nigeria MPI 32%, 67 million poor
Single source
15School attendance deprivation in 27% poor children globally
Verified
16Housing materials deprivation 56% among poor
Single source
17Assets deprivation affects 82% multidimensionally poor
Verified
18In SSA, 66% poor lack electricity
Verified
19South Asia 40% poor without sanitation
Single source
20Child undernutrition 25% in poor households MPI
Verified
21MPI global H=15.5%, affecting 1.1 billion
Single source
22350 million poor in conflict countries MPI
Directional
23Drinking water deprivation 25% poor, sanitation 43%
Verified
24Child mortality deprivation 15% among poor
Directional
25Years of schooling <6 years for 33% poor adults
Verified
26In Latin America, MPI average 3.8%
Verified
27East Asia MPI 1.4%, lowest
Directional
2867% poor deprived in at least 4 indicators
Single source

Dimensions Interpretation

While these numbers paint a stark portrait of a planet still laboring under the weight of poverty, it’s the human details—the 65% cooking over toxic fires, the 82% without basic assets, and the 644 million children born into this deprivation—that transform a statistical abstract into a damning indictment of our collective inaction.

More related reading

Populations

1333 million children under 5 in extreme poverty globally in 2022
Verified
21 in 6 children worldwide lives in extreme poverty
Verified
3Women and girls are 15% more likely to be poor than men
Verified
4Rural poverty rate is 17.2% vs urban 5.3% globally
Directional
580% of world's poor live in rural areas
Single source
6Indigenous peoples 19% more likely to be poor
Verified
7Elderly poor face higher rates in low-income countries, 20-30%
Verified
8People with disabilities twice as likely to be poor
Verified
9Youth unemployment exacerbates poverty for 1.3 billion under 25
Verified
10Female-headed households 10-20% poorer on average
Directional
11Refugees and IDPs: 70% in poverty
Verified
12Farmers comprise 75% of extreme poor
Verified
13356 million children in extreme poverty in SSA alone
Verified
14In South Asia, 98 million children extreme poor
Single source
15Globally, 9% of children in extreme poverty vs 6% adults
Single source
1650% of extreme poor are children under 18
Verified
17Adolescent girls 20% more deprived in education
Verified
18Rural children 3x more likely poor than urban
Directional
1940 million children in conflict zones extreme poor
Verified
20Orphaned children 2x poverty risk
Verified
21Migrant children face 15% higher poverty
Verified
22Poor children 3x stunting rate
Verified
23167 million girls not in school, poverty linked
Single source
24Poor households 2x dropout rate
Single source
25815 million poor lack healthcare access
Verified
26Single mothers 30% higher poverty risk
Verified
27Ethnic minorities 2-3x poverty rates
Verified
28Urban slums house 1 billion poor
Verified
29Fishers and pastoralists 50%+ poverty
Verified
30Poor women work 2x hours unpaid
Verified
31SSA child poverty rose 20 million 2015-2022
Single source

Populations Interpretation

Behind every cold statistic lies a preventable human story, a cascade of inequality where a child's birthplace, gender, or disability too often dictates a life sentence of poverty, proving that our world's greatest failing is its distribution of chance.

Prevalence

1In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as less than $2.15 per day in 2017 PPP terms
Verified
2The global extreme poverty rate fell from 38% in 1990 to 8.7% in 2022
Verified
344% of the world's extreme poor lived in just two countries, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2022
Verified
4Between 2019 and 2022, extreme poverty increased by 70 million people due to COVID-19
Directional
5In 2019, 648 million people were in extreme poverty pre-COVID
Single source
6Global poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 a day was 9.2% in 2020
Single source
71.1 billion people live on less than $3.65 per day globally in 2022
Verified
8Nearly 700 million people endure extreme poverty in 2023 estimates
Verified
9Extreme poverty affects 8.5% of the world population as of latest PIP data
Verified
10In 2022, 2.8 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure, linked to poverty
Directional
11Nigeria's poverty increased 10 million 2018-2021
Single source
12Pakistan has 40% population below $3.65/day
Verified
13Yemen: 80% in poverty due to conflict
Verified
14Afghanistan: 23.7 million need aid, half in poverty post-2021
Verified
15Bangladesh: reduced extreme poverty to 0.9% by 2022
Directional
16Global moderate poverty ($3.65/day) affects 44% of population
Verified
173.5 billion live below $6.85/day upper-middle line
Single source
18In SSA, 59% below $2.15/day
Verified
191.2 billion in acute food insecurity linked to poverty
Verified
20In 2022, 700 million in extreme poverty, stable post-COVID
Verified
21Madagascar highest poverty rate 77.3% at national line
Single source
22South Sudan 76% extreme poverty
Directional
23Central African Republic 71% poverty
Verified
24Burundi 65% extreme poor
Verified
25Rwanda reduced poverty from 77% to 38% 2006-2017
Verified
26Global $6.85/day poverty 47%
Directional
274.2 billion below $10/day living wage line
Single source

Prevalence Interpretation

The world is simultaneously winning the marathon against extreme poverty while tragically losing several critical sprints, with progress in places like Bangladesh and Rwanda starkly overshadowed by backsliding in nations like Nigeria and the haunting reality that nearly 700 million people still subsist on less than the price of a cup of coffee each day.

More related reading

Regions

1Sub-Saharan Africa has 40% of global extreme poor, 429 million people
Verified
2In South Asia, 101 million in extreme poverty in 2022
Directional
3East Asia and Pacific has 23 million extreme poor, lowest regional rate
Verified
4Latin America and Caribbean: 25 million extreme poor at $2.15/day
Verified
5Middle East and North Africa: 40 million in extreme poverty
Verified
6Europe and Central Asia: under 3 million extreme poor
Verified
7In Nigeria, 87 million in extreme poverty, world's highest
Directional
8India reduced extreme poor from 16% to 12% 2011-2019
Verified
9DRC has 75 million extreme poor
Verified
10Ethiopia: 25 million extreme poor despite growth
Verified
11In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty rate is 35% at $2.15/day
Single source
12Haiti: 59% extreme poverty, highest in LAC
Verified
13Madagascar: 80% below $2.15/day
Verified
14Mozambique: 63% extreme poor
Verified
15Niger: 45% extreme poverty rate
Single source
16Burkina Faso: 37 million multidimensionally poor
Verified
17Tanzania: 26% extreme poverty, 15 million people
Verified
18Uganda: 21 million below poverty line
Verified
19Zambia: 54% poverty rate national line
Verified
20Malawi: 71% below $2.15/day
Verified
21Sierra Leone: 53% extreme poverty
Verified
22In West Asia, 7 million extreme poor
Verified
23China: <1% extreme poverty now
Verified
24Brazil: 5% extreme poverty
Verified
25Indonesia: 9.5% national poverty
Verified
26Philippines: 18% poverty rate
Verified
27Vietnam: reduced to 5% extreme poverty
Verified
28Ghana: 24% below $2.15/day
Verified
29Kenya: 34% extreme poverty
Verified

Regions Interpretation

While a few nations are valiantly chiseling down the monolith of poverty, the stark and stubborn concentration of misery in Sub-Saharan Africa reminds us that global inequality remains a gaping, unforgiving chasm.

More related reading

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Poverty In World Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/poverty-in-world-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Poverty In World Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/poverty-in-world-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Poverty In World Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/poverty-in-world-statistics.

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