- 1.1 billion people globally live in acute poverty.
- Children account for over half of those affected.
- Poverty rates are three times higher in countries at war.
- 584 million people under 18 experience extreme poverty.
- 83.2% of the world’s poorest live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- India has the largest number in extreme poverty (234 million).
- Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Democratic Republic of the Congo follow.
- Conflicts hinder poverty reduction and undermine peace.
More than 1.1 billion people globally are grappling with acute poverty, with children making up over half of those affected, according to a UN Development Programme report. This staggering figure is exacerbated by conflicts, with poverty rates three times higher in countries at war. In fact, 2023 saw the most conflicts worldwide since World War II.
The report reveals that 584 million people under 18 are experiencing extreme poverty, accounting for 27.9% of children worldwide, compared to 13.5% of adults. Additionally, 83.2% of the world’s poorest people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
UNDP Chief Statistician Yanchun Zhang emphasized that for the poor in conflict-affected countries, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher and more desperate battle.
India has the largest number of people in extreme poverty, impacting 234 million of its 1.4 billion population, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These five countries account for nearly half of the 1.1 billion poor people worldwide.
The report highlights the urgent need for poverty reduction and peace efforts to address this crisis, stressing that conflicts hinder poverty reduction efforts and undermine peace.
