A UN Development Programme (UNDP) report reveals that over one billion people globally live in acute poverty, with Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounting for nearly half of this staggering figure.
The report, released Thursday, highlights that more than 584 million children under 18—27.9 per cent of the world’s youth—suffer from extreme poverty.
“India has the highest extreme poverty rate, impacting 234 million of its 1.4 billion people,” the report states.
Chief statistician at UNDP, Yanchun Zhang, noted, “The 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) paints a sobering picture: 1.1 billion endure multidimensional poverty, with 455 million living in conflict zones.”
“The findings underscore the alarming connection between poverty and ongoing conflicts, which are at their highest since World War II.
“Poverty rates are three times higher in war-torn countries,” the report emphasises, indicating urgent humanitarian needs exacerbated by instability. Zhang added, “For the poor in conflict-affected nations, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher battle.”
Sabina Alkire, director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, stated, “What shocked us was the sheer magnitude of people struggling to live decent lives while fearing for their safety.”
She asserts that these findings challenge the international community to priorities both poverty reduction and peace-building efforts. “This points to a stark but unavoidable challenge: ensuring that any peace initiatives are sustainable,” Alkire added.
