Globally, extreme poverty has rapidly declined. New poverty estimates by the World Bank suggest that the number of extremely poor people—those who live on $1.90 a day or less—has fallen from 1.9 billion in 1990 to about 736 million in 2015.
However, the number of people living in extreme poverty is on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, comprising more than half of the extreme poor in 2015. Forecasts also indicate that by 2030, nearly 9 in 10 extremely poor people will live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Find more information and the latest poverty estimates at World Bank PovcalNet and Poverty & Equity Data portal.
Thank you for this blog post and the very user friendly visualization!
However, I find the title to be misleading. The number of extreme poor is not on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been increasing, but is actually peaking now 2018-2019 with 437 million people, and then slowly decline again to reach 416 million in 2030.
What I think should be highlighted (and also is highlighted) is that the total number is still falling (from 736 million to around 500 million, while we still have a population increase ongoing thus making the percentage fall even more), and that almost everyone living in extreme poverty in 2030 will be living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Please send me this report on The number of extremely poor people continues to rise in Sub-Saharan Africa
Very insightful abstract. I would appreciate receipt of the full report so as to understand the drivers of the extreme poverty in Sub Saharan. Perhaps getting to know the drivers can help countries in SSA begin to work on poverty eradication policies (or improve existing policies) that can mitigate the extreme poverty projections.
good
Yes, agreed strongly that the poverty is on the high side in sub Sahara Africa most especially in Nigeria
I agree that Poverty would continue to be on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, even in the face of UN Program on Road to Dignity, 2030 intended to eradicate poverty. Two important reasons, to me, are bad governance and failure of financial institutions which are supposed to alleviate that poverty but instead exacerbate it by being too elitist! Please, kindly send me this article which would likely help me add more flesh to my article on this and other issues. Thanks.
Thank you for your reply and for clarifying the issues from your report on " The number of extremely poor people continues to rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, while falling rapidly in all other regions" . I think I now understand where the confusion came from in that the total number of poor people is falling even with population increase. But despite the decline in poverty in Sub- Saharan Africa to reach 416 million by 2030, everyone living in extreme poverty in 2030 will be living in sub-Saharan Africa. If I get this right , I have one question to ask? Why are people attracted to live in sub-Saharan Africa during this difficult period of their lives? Is is because standard of living in sub -Saharan Africa is still cheap in comparison to living in other countries and one can survive with $1.90 a day where as it is unthinkable to even try elsewhere. Would family networks serve as safety nets for these extremely poor population . Would the weather be another attraction for the extreme poor ? I hope there will be a study to be conducted to answer these questions and shared to in this forum . Thank you for sharing your knowledge to improve people's lives.
Thanks
I must confess that world Bank project has been doing a great job in the area of poverty reduction, maternal and child care, reduction on maternal and child mortality, urban development, good road network, quality education etc.
This is evident in the millennium development Goals.
This was recently improved upon by the latest sustainable development goals.
However the mentality of our people in Nigeria has to change towards projects of this magnitude.
It shouldn't be all business as usual. We need to be less griddy and put the interest of the poor masses in our hearts.
While the rich people at the top were getting richer and busy embezzling money at the expense of the poor who can hardly afford a meal or send their children to school.
We need to change our orientation. I mean the people at the helm of affairs.
It is this Nigeria mentality that hardly make such projects sustainable.
We need a new orientation, a new mind set and be less selfish.
A very informative and helpful Data for the informed decision . Please I wonder getting the full material for Sub S African
Many thanks
In a quarter of a century the number of persons living on less than $1.90 per day has fallen from 1.9 Billion to 736 Million. What does this tell us? Seriously? What is the value of $1.90 ? Is that an acceptable benchmark? How may persons are living below $5 per day? What can $5 per day buy in any part of the world? Africa has a greater % of its population that is extremely poor, yet it has the largest reserves of several precious minerals.....what a paradox?
This has really help thank you.
Thank you for the great work you're doing in sub-saharan Africa and the rest of the world on the matter of poverty alleviation.
Iam a Ugandan youth in the Civic society serving in the leadership of an org.(Family uplift Uganda) whose great vision is "A generation free from poverty".
I believe that World Bank has employed a number of tools/projects to reduce the poverty level in my region.With the projections of 2030 above,which tools have you employed in particular and have failed?Why is that? How can we re-strategise? Is it a problem of governance or failed financial systems? How can we creatively come up with a poor people tailored solution to end this beast?
I appreciate your great work and your interaction with us will be of great help if we are to fight this together.
Thank you my number one global organization.
Why is poverty peaking in the Sub-Saharan Africa?
This is nomin from mongolia.i am happy to give my voice against poverty.70percent of people are poverty means such as no healthy food etc.also no safe environment.
I need mostly African issues and specifically Ethiopia
my teacher told me to read this blog and it is so sad that the poverty level in the world is so high that people cannot even afford to send their children to school in our country a father commited suicide because he could not buy his daughter a smart phone so she could attend her online classes that is so disappointing the government is wasting our tax money and using it to build a stupid statue or a temple whereas there is no need for them we need to focus on the farmers poverty not some statue which people will not even care about a few years from now.
I think there is a need to emphasize more focus in Agriculture Sector for the case of Sub Sahara Africa because majority of people live in rural area and their major economic activities is agriculture. The emphasize should consider on advocating for SSA governments to abide on CAADP agreements and how to reverage private sector investment in the sector
It is unfortunate Sub-Saharan Africa, with all the sufferings, still has to suffer even more as time passes. It's a pity! At the same time poverty is reducing drastically in other parts of the world, us, Sub-Saharan Africans, are getting poorer and poorer; seems as if our resources are being diverted to the betterment of other counties in the world. Or, are we the laziest of people in the world? Are we the least resourceful?? Were we excluded from the sustainable development goals 2030??? I don't believe so. "9 out of 10 people will be extremely poor by 2030"; this statistics brings tears to my eyes but determination on my mind to ensure the self sustenance of at least my family and I, even before 2030. I already hold a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. I believe in the next 3 years I would have gotten my Masters degree in development related field. And by 2028, I would have achieved a portion of my dream.
Thanks for the blog. I found it helpful.
Osman Deen Turay.
I one among of sub saharan African , but the report title and summary focus much to give data and information about poverty , yes its good to make us know this status, but to know only its not enough, my argument is , what neccesary measure should we take to eradicate poverty ??