Over 1 Billion People Living in Acute Poverty as Global Conflicts Surge

A new report by the UN Development Program (UNDP), in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), has revealed that more than 1.1 billion people globally are suffering from acute multidimensional poverty. Children account for over half of this number, with 584 million under the age of 18 enduring extreme deprivation.

The 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report highlights that poverty rates are significantly higher in countries affected by conflict. In fact, 455 million of the world’s poorest people live in areas plagued by war, representing nearly 41% of those living in extreme poverty.

Yanchun Zhang, chief statistician at the UNDP, explained that people living in conflict-affected regions face a far more severe struggle to meet basic needs. The report also noted that 83.2% of the world’s poorest individuals live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with India having the largest population in poverty at 234 million people.

This year’s findings echo the previous year’s data, emphasizing the persistent and widespread nature of poverty across the globe. Sabina Alkire, director of OPHI, pointed out that the global rise in conflicts continues to hinder poverty reduction efforts, making it essential for the international community to focus on fostering peace to achieve sustainable development.