GITNUXREPORT 2026

World Poverty Statistics

Poverty is declining globally, but remains concentrated and devastating in certain regions.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Cash transfers reduced poverty 20% in recipient countries average

Statistic 2

Poverty costs global economy $2.5tn yearly in lost productivity

Statistic 3

Malnutrition from poverty causes 45% child deaths, 3.1m yearly

Statistic 4

Extreme poor spend 50% income on food, vulnerable to shocks

Statistic 5

Poverty linked to 2.8bn lacking clean water, 485k deaths yearly

Statistic 6

Poor education traps: 250m children out of school, perpetuating cycle

Statistic 7

Health poverty: 3.5bn lack essential services, $500bn catastrohpic costs

Statistic 8

Gender impacts: Poor women 10% less calories, higher anemia 40%

Statistic 9

Child labor 160m, mostly poor households

Statistic 10

Homelessness 1.6bn inadequate housing, poverty driver

Statistic 11

Mental health: Poverty doubles depression risk, 280m affected

Statistic 12

Inequality impact: Top 1% hold 45% wealth, slowing poverty reduction

Statistic 13

Climate-poverty nexus: 26m pushed poor yearly by disasters

Statistic 14

Migration from poverty: 281m international migrants, remittances mitigate but not solve

Statistic 15

Debt distress in 60% poorest countries hampers growth

Statistic 16

Urban poverty growth 11% faster than rural decline

Statistic 17

Food poverty: 2.4bn can't afford healthy diet

Statistic 18

Conflict poverty trap: Recovery takes 20+ years post-war

Statistic 19

Digital divide: Poor 37% less internet access, hindering jobs

Statistic 20

Social cohesion eroded: Crime 3x higher in poor areas

Statistic 21

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

Statistic 22

As of 2023 estimates, 8.5% of the global population is in extreme poverty, down from 10% in 2019

Statistic 23

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 67% of the world's extreme poor, with 429 million people affected in 2022

Statistic 24

In 2021, 1.2 billion people experienced poverty across 111 countries using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

Statistic 25

Globally, 46% of people in multidimensional poverty are children under 18, totaling around 552 million children in 2021

Statistic 26

Extreme poverty rate stood at 9.3% in 2020 due to COVID-19 reversal, affecting 711 million people

Statistic 27

In low-income countries, 54% of the population lives below $2.15/day as of 2022 data

Statistic 28

3.3 billion people, or 44% of the world, lived on less than $6.85/day (upper-middle income poverty line) in 2022

Statistic 29

Rural areas host 80% of the world's extreme poor, with 568 million rural dwellers under $2.15/day in 2022

Statistic 30

Women and girls represent 52% of those in extreme poverty globally, approximately 370 million in 2022

Statistic 31

In 2023, 648 million workers and 8 million children live in extreme poverty despite employment

Statistic 32

1.1 billion people lack access to electricity, correlating highly with poverty levels in 2022

Statistic 33

Global poverty headcount at $3.65/day was 23% or 1.8 billion people in 2022

Statistic 34

In fragile and conflict-affected states, 40% of people live in extreme poverty, twice the global average

Statistic 35

836 million people in extreme poverty in 2019, rising to 712 million by 2022 post-adjustment

Statistic 36

Asia hosts 30% of global extreme poor, with 231 million in 2022

Statistic 37

Latin America has 4% extreme poverty rate, affecting 26 million in 2022

Statistic 38

Middle East and North Africa extreme poverty at 3.7%, 13 million people in 2022

Statistic 39

Europe and Central Asia at 1.2% extreme poverty, 5 million affected in 2022

Statistic 40

In India, 10% of population or 140 million in extreme poverty in 2021

Statistic 41

Nigeria has 40% extreme poverty rate, 87 million people in 2022

Statistic 42

DRC with 63% extreme poverty, 66 million in 2022

Statistic 43

Ethiopia 27% extreme poverty, 32 million affected in 2022

Statistic 44

Bangladesh reduced extreme poverty to 0.9%, 1.6 million in 2022

Statistic 45

Pakistan 5% extreme poverty, 12 million in 2022

Statistic 46

Mozambique 65% extreme poverty rate, 19 million in 2022

Statistic 47

Madagascar 80% below $2.15/day, 20 million poor in 2022

Statistic 48

Haiti 60% extreme poverty, 7 million in 2022

Statistic 49

Yemen 80% in poverty due to conflict, 24 million affected in 2022

Statistic 50

In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty rate is 35% at $2.15/day, affecting 429 million in 2022

Statistic 51

South Asia extreme poverty rate 5.9%, 103 million people in 2022

Statistic 52

East Asia and Pacific at 1.2% extreme poverty, 28 million in 2022

Statistic 53

Latin America and Caribbean 3.8% extreme poverty, 25 million in 2022

Statistic 54

Middle East and North Africa 5.8% at $2.15/day, 20 million poor in 2022

Statistic 55

In West Africa, 37% poverty rate, 130 million affected in 2022

Statistic 56

East Africa poverty at 32%, 150 million in extreme poverty 2022

Statistic 57

Southern Africa 45% poverty rate, 60 million poor in 2022

Statistic 58

Central Asia poverty 4.5%, 12 million at $2.15/day in 2022

Statistic 59

South Asia rural poverty 7.2%, urban 2.8% in 2022

Statistic 60

In Sahel region, 42% extreme poverty, 50 million in 2022

Statistic 61

Horn of Africa poverty average 40%, affecting 80 million in 2022

Statistic 62

Andean region Latin America 5% poverty, 10 million poor 2022

Statistic 63

Brazil 4.5% extreme poverty, 10 million in 2022

Statistic 64

Mexico 1.7% extreme poverty, 2 million affected 2022

Statistic 65

Indonesia 9.4% poverty at national line, 25 million poor 2022

Statistic 66

Philippines 18.1% poverty rate, 19 million poor in 2021

Statistic 67

Vietnam reduced to 4.4% extreme poverty, 4 million in 2022

Statistic 68

China lifted 800 million out of poverty since 1978, near 0% extreme poverty 2022

Statistic 69

Egypt 29.7% poverty rate, 31 million poor in 2022

Statistic 70

Afghanistan 50% poverty post-2021, 20 million affected 2022

Statistic 71

Syria 80% poverty due to war, 15 million in 2022

Statistic 72

Extreme poverty fell from 36% in 1990 to 8.5% in 2023, lifting 1.3 billion since 1990

Statistic 73

Annual poverty reduction 1-2% pre-COVID, stalled to 0.5% 2020-2022

Statistic 74

1990-2015 SDG era saw 1.9 billion escape poverty, fastest decline ever

Statistic 75

COVID-19 pushed 97 million more into extreme poverty 2020-2021

Statistic 76

Climate shocks reversed poverty gains for 26 million yearly

Statistic 77

Digital poverty down 15% since 2015, but 2.6bn offline in 2023

Statistic 78

Food insecurity rose from 8.9% to 9.8% 2020-2022, 735m undernourished

Statistic 79

Remittances grew 7% yearly to $831bn in 2022, aiding poverty reduction

Statistic 80

ODA totaled $204bn in 2022, but 0.36% GNI, below 0.7% target

Statistic 81

Extreme poverty projected to 575m by 2030 if trends continue

Statistic 82

Multidimensional poverty down 18% 2000-2021 in MPI countries

Statistic 83

SSA poverty rose from 27% to 35% 2015-2022

Statistic 84

India halved extreme poverty 2011-2021, from 21% to 10%

Statistic 85

China extreme poverty from 66% in 1990 to <1% 2020

Statistic 86

Sub-Saharan Africa to host 90% of extreme poor by 2030

Statistic 87

Gender poverty gap narrowing 0.5% yearly since 2000

Statistic 88

Child poverty down 50% in East Asia 1990-2020

Statistic 89

Conflict drove 50m into poverty since 2010

Statistic 90

Electricity access up from 75% to 90% 2000-2022, aiding poverty drop

Statistic 91

Social protection coverage 45% globally, up 10% since 2010

Statistic 92

ODA to poorest countries 12% of total, stagnant since 2015

Statistic 93

Children under 5 in extreme poverty number 333 million globally, 59% of under-5s in poorest households multidimensional poor

Statistic 94

356 million children live in extreme poverty under $2.15/day in 2022, half of all extreme poor

Statistic 95

148 million stunted children linked to poverty, 22% globally in 2022

Statistic 96

Women-headed households 10-25% more likely to be poor globally

Statistic 97

40% of extreme poor are employed, working poor total 648 million adults

Statistic 98

Indigenous peoples 19% more likely to be poor, affecting 476 million globally

Statistic 99

Elderly poverty rate 12% globally, 150 million over 60 in poverty 2022

Statistic 100

Disabled people twice as likely to live in poverty, 15-20% higher rates

Statistic 101

Refugees and IDPs 70% live in poverty, 100 million displaced in 2023

Statistic 102

Female youth unemployment 16.2% vs 13.2% male, exacerbating poverty

Statistic 103

In rural areas, 75% of poor children lack safe water

Statistic 104

Orphaned children 20% more poverty prone, 140 million orphans globally

Statistic 105

LGBTQ+ individuals face 2-3x poverty risk due to discrimination

Statistic 106

Landless farmers 50% in poverty in developing countries

Statistic 107

Migrants remit $800bn but origin poverty persists, 272m international migrants

Statistic 108

In conflict zones, 75% of poor are vulnerable groups

Statistic 109

Adolescent girls 120 million in poverty face child marriage risk

Statistic 110

Poor with chronic illness 4x more likely to stay poor

Statistic 111

Urban slum dwellers 55% poor, 1 billion in slums 2022

Statistic 112

Caste-based discrimination doubles poverty in South Asia

1/112

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

Imagine living on less than the price of a cup of coffee each day, a staggering reality for 712 million people in 2022 whose existence is defined by extreme poverty.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $2.15 per day (2017 PPP)
As of 2023 estimates, 8.5% of the global population is in extreme poverty, down from 10% in 2019
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 67% of the world's extreme poor, with 429 million people affected in 2022
In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty rate is 35% at $2.15/day, affecting 429 million in 2022
South Asia extreme poverty rate 5.9%, 103 million people in 2022
East Asia and Pacific at 1.2% extreme poverty, 28 million in 2022
Children under 5 in extreme poverty number 333 million globally, 59% of under-5s in poorest households multidimensional poor
356 million children live in extreme poverty under $2.15/day in 2022, half of all extreme poor
148 million stunted children linked to poverty, 22% globally in 2022
Extreme poverty fell from 36% in 1990 to 8.5% in 2023, lifting 1.3 billion since 1990
Annual poverty reduction 1-2% pre-COVID, stalled to 0.5% 2020-2022
1990-2015 SDG era saw 1.9 billion escape poverty, fastest decline ever
Cash transfers reduced poverty 20% in recipient countries average
Poverty costs global economy $2.5tn yearly in lost productivity
Malnutrition from poverty causes 45% child deaths, 3.1m yearly

Poverty is declining globally, but remains concentrated and devastating in certain regions.

Impacts

Cash transfers reduced poverty 20% in recipient countries average
Poverty costs global economy $2.5tn yearly in lost productivity
Malnutrition from poverty causes 45% child deaths, 3.1m yearly
Extreme poor spend 50% income on food, vulnerable to shocks
Poverty linked to 2.8bn lacking clean water, 485k deaths yearly
Poor education traps: 250m children out of school, perpetuating cycle
Health poverty: 3.5bn lack essential services, $500bn catastrohpic costs
Gender impacts: Poor women 10% less calories, higher anemia 40%
Child labor 160m, mostly poor households
Homelessness 1.6bn inadequate housing, poverty driver
Mental health: Poverty doubles depression risk, 280m affected
Inequality impact: Top 1% hold 45% wealth, slowing poverty reduction
Climate-poverty nexus: 26m pushed poor yearly by disasters
Migration from poverty: 281m international migrants, remittances mitigate but not solve
Debt distress in 60% poorest countries hampers growth
Urban poverty growth 11% faster than rural decline
Food poverty: 2.4bn can't afford healthy diet
Conflict poverty trap: Recovery takes 20+ years post-war
Digital divide: Poor 37% less internet access, hindering jobs
Social cohesion eroded: Crime 3x higher in poor areas

Impacts Interpretation

This avalanche of grim data reveals poverty not as a passive state of lack, but as an active, multi-fronted siege on human potential that cripples bodies with hunger, traps minds in illiteracy, exhausts spirits with insecurity, and then bills the global economy a staggering $2.5 trillion a year for the privilege of allowing it.

Prevalence

In 2022, approximately 712 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $2.15 per day (2017 PPP)
As of 2023 estimates, 8.5% of the global population is in extreme poverty, down from 10% in 2019
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 67% of the world's extreme poor, with 429 million people affected in 2022
In 2021, 1.2 billion people experienced poverty across 111 countries using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
Globally, 46% of people in multidimensional poverty are children under 18, totaling around 552 million children in 2021
Extreme poverty rate stood at 9.3% in 2020 due to COVID-19 reversal, affecting 711 million people
In low-income countries, 54% of the population lives below $2.15/day as of 2022 data
3.3 billion people, or 44% of the world, lived on less than $6.85/day (upper-middle income poverty line) in 2022
Rural areas host 80% of the world's extreme poor, with 568 million rural dwellers under $2.15/day in 2022
Women and girls represent 52% of those in extreme poverty globally, approximately 370 million in 2022
In 2023, 648 million workers and 8 million children live in extreme poverty despite employment
1.1 billion people lack access to electricity, correlating highly with poverty levels in 2022
Global poverty headcount at $3.65/day was 23% or 1.8 billion people in 2022
In fragile and conflict-affected states, 40% of people live in extreme poverty, twice the global average
836 million people in extreme poverty in 2019, rising to 712 million by 2022 post-adjustment
Asia hosts 30% of global extreme poor, with 231 million in 2022
Latin America has 4% extreme poverty rate, affecting 26 million in 2022
Middle East and North Africa extreme poverty at 3.7%, 13 million people in 2022
Europe and Central Asia at 1.2% extreme poverty, 5 million affected in 2022
In India, 10% of population or 140 million in extreme poverty in 2021
Nigeria has 40% extreme poverty rate, 87 million people in 2022
DRC with 63% extreme poverty, 66 million in 2022
Ethiopia 27% extreme poverty, 32 million affected in 2022
Bangladesh reduced extreme poverty to 0.9%, 1.6 million in 2022
Pakistan 5% extreme poverty, 12 million in 2022
Mozambique 65% extreme poverty rate, 19 million in 2022
Madagascar 80% below $2.15/day, 20 million poor in 2022
Haiti 60% extreme poverty, 7 million in 2022
Yemen 80% in poverty due to conflict, 24 million affected in 2022

Prevalence Interpretation

Behind a façade of modest global progress, a staggering and stubborn human tragedy persists, where poverty's face is overwhelmingly young, rural, African, and female, proving that economic gains are still failing to lift the most vulnerable boats on the tide.

Regional

In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty rate is 35% at $2.15/day, affecting 429 million in 2022
South Asia extreme poverty rate 5.9%, 103 million people in 2022
East Asia and Pacific at 1.2% extreme poverty, 28 million in 2022
Latin America and Caribbean 3.8% extreme poverty, 25 million in 2022
Middle East and North Africa 5.8% at $2.15/day, 20 million poor in 2022
In West Africa, 37% poverty rate, 130 million affected in 2022
East Africa poverty at 32%, 150 million in extreme poverty 2022
Southern Africa 45% poverty rate, 60 million poor in 2022
Central Asia poverty 4.5%, 12 million at $2.15/day in 2022
South Asia rural poverty 7.2%, urban 2.8% in 2022
In Sahel region, 42% extreme poverty, 50 million in 2022
Horn of Africa poverty average 40%, affecting 80 million in 2022
Andean region Latin America 5% poverty, 10 million poor 2022
Brazil 4.5% extreme poverty, 10 million in 2022
Mexico 1.7% extreme poverty, 2 million affected 2022
Indonesia 9.4% poverty at national line, 25 million poor 2022
Philippines 18.1% poverty rate, 19 million poor in 2021
Vietnam reduced to 4.4% extreme poverty, 4 million in 2022
China lifted 800 million out of poverty since 1978, near 0% extreme poverty 2022
Egypt 29.7% poverty rate, 31 million poor in 2022
Afghanistan 50% poverty post-2021, 20 million affected 2022
Syria 80% poverty due to war, 15 million in 2022

Regional Interpretation

The map of global poverty is a stark and uneven ledger: while some regions have made historic gains, others remain tragically anchored in a depth of deprivation where progress moves not like a rising tide, but like a drip through stone.

Trends

Extreme poverty fell from 36% in 1990 to 8.5% in 2023, lifting 1.3 billion since 1990
Annual poverty reduction 1-2% pre-COVID, stalled to 0.5% 2020-2022
1990-2015 SDG era saw 1.9 billion escape poverty, fastest decline ever
COVID-19 pushed 97 million more into extreme poverty 2020-2021
Climate shocks reversed poverty gains for 26 million yearly
Digital poverty down 15% since 2015, but 2.6bn offline in 2023
Food insecurity rose from 8.9% to 9.8% 2020-2022, 735m undernourished
Remittances grew 7% yearly to $831bn in 2022, aiding poverty reduction
ODA totaled $204bn in 2022, but 0.36% GNI, below 0.7% target
Extreme poverty projected to 575m by 2030 if trends continue
Multidimensional poverty down 18% 2000-2021 in MPI countries
SSA poverty rose from 27% to 35% 2015-2022
India halved extreme poverty 2011-2021, from 21% to 10%
China extreme poverty from 66% in 1990 to <1% 2020
Sub-Saharan Africa to host 90% of extreme poor by 2030
Gender poverty gap narrowing 0.5% yearly since 2000
Child poverty down 50% in East Asia 1990-2020
Conflict drove 50m into poverty since 2010
Electricity access up from 75% to 90% 2000-2022, aiding poverty drop
Social protection coverage 45% globally, up 10% since 2010
ODA to poorest countries 12% of total, stagnant since 2015

Trends Interpretation

This statistic is a heartening relay race of human progress, where the baton of escaping poverty has been passed to billions, yet we now find ourselves running through a minefield of pandemics, climate shocks, and conflict that threatens to trip up the final, most difficult leg.

Vulnerable Groups

Children under 5 in extreme poverty number 333 million globally, 59% of under-5s in poorest households multidimensional poor
356 million children live in extreme poverty under $2.15/day in 2022, half of all extreme poor
148 million stunted children linked to poverty, 22% globally in 2022
Women-headed households 10-25% more likely to be poor globally
40% of extreme poor are employed, working poor total 648 million adults
Indigenous peoples 19% more likely to be poor, affecting 476 million globally
Elderly poverty rate 12% globally, 150 million over 60 in poverty 2022
Disabled people twice as likely to live in poverty, 15-20% higher rates
Refugees and IDPs 70% live in poverty, 100 million displaced in 2023
Female youth unemployment 16.2% vs 13.2% male, exacerbating poverty
In rural areas, 75% of poor children lack safe water
Orphaned children 20% more poverty prone, 140 million orphans globally
LGBTQ+ individuals face 2-3x poverty risk due to discrimination
Landless farmers 50% in poverty in developing countries
Migrants remit $800bn but origin poverty persists, 272m international migrants
In conflict zones, 75% of poor are vulnerable groups
Adolescent girls 120 million in poverty face child marriage risk
Poor with chronic illness 4x more likely to stay poor
Urban slum dwellers 55% poor, 1 billion in slums 2022
Caste-based discrimination doubles poverty in South Asia

Vulnerable Groups Interpretation

Despite a world obsessed with progress, these numbers paint a sobering portrait of a global engine that runs on the fuel of childhood deprivation, the labor of the underpaid, and the persistent exclusion of anyone deemed 'other'.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev