The United Nations on Monday said that if current global trends continue, about 8.9 per cent of the world’s population could still live in extreme poverty by 2030, signalling that the international target to eradicate extreme poverty may not be achieved on time.
Ending extreme poverty by 2030 is a key target under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs define extreme poverty using an international poverty line of surviving on less than US$3.00 per day at 2021 purchasing power parity.
The UN’s position comes amid revisions to how extreme poverty is measured globally. Updated estimates show changes relative to earlier figures, reflecting shifts in the global economy, inflation and cost-of-living assessments.
In its statement, the UN said that in 2025 around 808 million people worldwide lived in extreme poverty, a figure representing about one in 10 people.
The organisation noted that progress in reducing extreme poverty has slowed significantly, even though historical declines were recorded over several decades.
According to the UN, the revised international poverty line and the latest estimates show that 8.9 per cent of the global population could still be living in extreme poverty by 2030 if trends continue unchanged.
The agency described a resurgence in global hunger levels to figures last seen in 2005 and highlighted increases in food prices across many countries compared with earlier periods.
In its statement, the UN explained that poverty remains multidimensional, driven by factors such as unemployment, social exclusion and heightened vulnerability to disasters and diseases.
The organisation also highlighted that social protection systems remain inadequate in many parts of the world.
It noted that as of 2023, nearly 47.6 per cent of people globally lacked full social protection coverage, including 1.4 billion children.
The UN’s forecast underscores that global poverty eradication goals are not on track under current conditions.
Prolonged poverty can affect economic growth, social cohesion and stability if basic needs such as food, healthcare and education are not met.
Persistent hunger and high food prices may increase the difficulty of improving living conditions for vulnerable communities worldwide.
The UN’s emphasis on multidimensional causes of poverty suggests that addressing income alone may not be sufficient. Enhanced social protection systems and broader policy responses may be needed to mitigate the impacts of shocks and support individuals at risk of falling into poverty.
