Over 1 Billion People Live in Extreme Poverty: UN Report

• 19 Oct 2024

On 17th October, 2024, a UN Development Program (UNDP) report highlighted that over one billion people globally are living in extreme poverty, with children making up more than half of that population.

Key Points

• Impact of Conflict on Poverty: The report notes that poverty rates are three times higher in conflict-affected regions. As of 2023, the world experienced its highest number of conflicts since World War II, significantly affecting poverty reduction efforts.
• Geographic Distribution of Poverty: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia house the majority of the world's poorest populations, with 83.2% of people living in extreme poverty residing in these regions.
• Children in Poverty: The report finds that 584 million children, or 27.9% of the global population under 18, are enduring extreme poverty, compared to 13.5% of adults.
• Countries with Highest Poverty Levels: India leads with the largest number of people in extreme poverty (234 million), followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These five nations account for nearly half of the world's poor.