Extreme Poverty Hits All-Time Low Globally

Global data shows the number of people living in extreme poverty has dropped to historic lows, signaling major progress in global development.

According to the World Bank, the share of people living in extreme poverty has fallen below 8% for the first time in recorded history. That’s a staggering drop from over 42% in 1981. While global headlines often focus on disaster and dysfunction, this quiet transformation represents one of the most extraordinary—and underappreciated—achievements of the modern era.

Extreme poverty is defined as living on less than $2.15 per day, adjusted for purchasing power. That might sound abstract, but for billions of people, it means the difference between constant hunger and reliable meals, between children working in fields and attending school, between lives defined by struggle and lives with opportunity.

This progress has been driven by multiple forces: economic growth in countries like China and India, targeted development programs, improvements in public health, better access to education, and technology that empowers even the poorest communities. In sub-Saharan Africa, gains have been slower but are beginning to accelerate, especially in countries investing in infrastructure and education.

That’s not to say the job is done. Nearly 700 million people still live in extreme poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary reversal in some regions. But the long-term trend remains solidly downward. And that matters—not just for those directly lifted up, but for global stability, opportunity, and shared prosperity.

In a world often divided by ideology and conflict, the fight against poverty stands out as a rare success story. It shows what’s possible when governments, markets, and civil society align around human flourishing. The goal of eradicating extreme poverty—once seen as a utopian dream—is now within reach.