Global poverty index rises for first time since its 2010 creation
Summary
The UN global poverty index has risen for the first time since 2010, with 1.2 billion people now affected and 51.5 million more living in acute poverty than last year. The report says poverty has fallen in Nepal, Egypt and Tajikistan, even as population growth has pushed the overall total higher.
Key Points
- The UN global poverty index increased for the first time since its 2010 creation, according to a new UNDP report.
- The 2026 report says 1.2 billion people are now affected by acute poverty, including more than 51.5 million additional people from the previous year.
- UNDP says population growth helped drive the increase, while limited new data was available for only 13 of 108 developing countries covered.
- The report says poverty rates and the number of people in multidimensional poverty have fallen significantly in Nepal, Egypt and Tajikistan.
