Globally, there are still 1.1 billion "multidimensional" people living in poverty, nearly 500 million of whom live in conflict-affected areas

Helena Carplo

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index measures poverty in terms of health, education, and living standards (housing, water, sanitation, electricity), which are closely related to people's daily lives, and is equivalent to a pyramid of interrelated deprivations. Since its launch in 2010, the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index has become a key tool to help policymakers identify the most vulnerable, allocate resources and shape policies effectively.

Conflict exacerbates poverty

The report, which examines 6.3 billion people in 112 countries in detail and incorporates the latest survey data from 20 countries, systematically reveals for the first time on a global scale the close links between conflict and multidimensional poverty. The study found that poverty rates in conflict-affected countries were almost three times higher than in non-conflict-affected countries. About 40 per cent of the world's poor live in countries and regions experiencing war, fragility or low peace indices.

UNDP Administrator Steiner noted that conflicts have intensified in recent years, displacing millions of people and severely impacting the lives and livelihoods of civilians. He called for greater international assistance and more resources to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches these conflict-affected areas to help break the vicious cycle of poverty and crisis.

Eradicating poverty requires a global effort

This year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty focuses on the social and systemic abuses experienced by people living in poverty, and explores how we can work together to advance the Sustainable Development Goal of promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

In his message for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for global action to end poverty and social injustice.

Guterres pointed out that poverty, while affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world, is not inevitable, but the result of social and government choices. Social discrimination and institutional barriers exacerbate inequalities by making it difficult for poor groups to access essential resources and services.

He stressed that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicate poverty, governments need to prioritize investments in decent work, education and social protection. He also called for global financial reform and the implementation of the Compact for the Future to support developing countries to help them invest in their people and promote sustainable economic and social development.

World Social Report 2024

Crises such as the pandemic, economic volatility and climate change have exacerbated global poverty and inequality, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, and global action is urgently needed to avoid further exacerbation of future crises, according to the World Social Report 2024, released today by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The report shows that multiple crises in recent years have reversed global progress in reducing poverty and unemployment. For the first time since the pandemic began in 2020, extreme poverty has risen globally, and inequality has further increased, especially in low-income countries.