17 Crore Lifted Above Poverty: World Bank

• 28 Apr 2025

On 26th April 2025, the World Bank released a report highlighting significant economic progress in India, including the reduction of extreme poverty and increased job creation.

Key Points

• Poverty Reduction: Extreme poverty in India dropped sharply from 16.2% in 2011–12 to 2.3% in 2022–23, lifting 17.1 crore people out of extreme poverty over the past decade.
• Rural and Urban Improvements: Rural poverty fell from 18.4% to 2.8%, and urban poverty decreased from 10.7% to 1.1%. The rural-urban poverty gap narrowed significantly.
• Employment Growth: Employment has grown faster than the working-age population since 2021–22, contributing to broader economic improvements.
• Shift to Lower-Middle Income: India transitioned to the lower-middle-income category, with a poverty rate drop from 61.8% to 28.1%.
• Regional Disparities: Despite progress, states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal still house a significant portion of India’s extreme poor.
• Income Inequality: Income inequality remains a concern, with the top 10% earning 13 times more than the bottom 10%, although consumption-based inequality improved.