Global Poverty Crisis: UN Report Reveals Over 1bn in Severe Hardship

A recent report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reveals a staggering 1.1 billion people are living in severe poverty globally, with children constituting over half of this alarming figure.

The findings, part of the 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) compiled with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), highlight the devastating impact of conflict on poverty levels.

The MPI report, which assesses poverty through various indicators—including inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and malnutrition—shows that poverty rates are three times higher in conflict-affected nations.

“The 2024 MPI paints a sobering picture: 1.1 billion people endure multidimensional poverty, of which 455 million live in the shadow of conflict,” stated UNDP’s chief statistician, Yanchun Zhang.

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The year 2023 marked the highest number of global conflicts since World War II, further exacerbating the plight of the impoverished.

Approximately 584 million children, nearly 28 percent of the world’s youth, are living in extreme poverty, compared to just 13.5 percent of adults.

Sabina Alkire, director of OPHI, emphasized, “Ongoing conflicts are a major obstacle in reducing poverty,” noting the urgent need for the international community to focus on both poverty reduction and peacebuilding.

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Regions most affected include Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where 83.2 percent of the world’s poorest reside.

Countries like India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among those with the highest poverty rates, collectively accounting for nearly half of the global total.