Over 600 Million May Face Extreme Poverty by 2030, UN Paper Reveals

October 18, 2023

A new paper by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) warns that the decline in global poverty is anticipated to be slower than previously estimated. It predicts that by 2030, over 600 million people will be living in extreme poverty, and progress made before the COVID-19 pandemic may erode. The paper also highlights concerning trends in undernourishment, maternal and infant mortality rates, access to safe water, and sanitation.

Key Findings

The paper projects that over 600 million people will be in extreme poverty by 2030, a significant setback from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of eradicating extreme poverty by that year.
The number of undernourished people is expected to be higher than pre-COVID levels and even higher than in 2015 when the SDGs were established. This is despite the SDGs aiming to eliminate undernourishment by 2030.
Slow progress is noted in maternal and infant mortality rates, as well as access to safe water and sanitation.
More than one in five children is projected to be stunted, although there will be some improvements in under-five and maternal mortality rates.
Access to safe water and basic sanitation will still be lacking for one in ten and one in five people, respectively, despite the SDGs’ goal of full coverage for both indicators.

Regional Impact

South Asia, including India, is expected to have a significant proportion of the global poor population.
While India has made progress in reducing poverty, particularly highlighted in the National Multidimensional Poverty Index report, South Asia remains a region with a substantial poor population.
Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to have the highest concentration of extreme monetary poverty by 2030.

Addressing Poverty

The paper emphasizes that economic growth alone is insufficient to address poverty concerns, and countries should prioritize inclusive growth.
It also suggests that the international community should consider debt relief and alternative financial revenues for developing economies, as these measures are critical for expanding the capacity to implement effective poverty-alleviating policies.

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