By Muhammad Zeeshan
A shocking United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report has revealed that 1.1 billion people across the world are still living below the poverty line. More than half of them are children, highlighting the severe and ongoing global inequality that continues to trap millions in hardship.
Global Picture: A Crisis Beyond Income
The UNDP, in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), released the 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) — a comprehensive study that measures deprivation beyond income. It examines lack of access to adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, clean cooking fuel, nutrition, and schooling. According to the report, 1.1 billion people are enduring multidimensional poverty, with 445 million living in conflict-affected regions. “For the poor in conflict zones, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher and more desperate battle,” said Yanchun Zhang, Chief Statistician at the UNDP.The report also found that 82.7% of the world’s poorest people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, regions that continue to face challenges from conflict, weak governance, and climate change.
Countries Hit the Hardest
India remains the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, with 23.4% of its 1.4 billion population affected. It is followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Despite steady progress in reducing poverty in some regions, the global pace remains too slow to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 1) of eradicating poverty by 2030.
Poverty in Pakistan: A Persistent Challenge
According to UNDP Pakistan and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), around 39% of Pakistan’s population lives in multidimensional poverty. The burden is particularly high in rural areas, where people face limited access to clean water, quality education, and healthcare.Provinces such as Balochistan and Sindh record some of the highest poverty rates, exacerbated by natural disasters, inflation, and unemployment.Government initiatives like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Ehsaas Programme have provided some relief to vulnerable families, but experts warn that more sustainable, long-term measures are needed to address the root causes of poverty.
Children at the Heart of the Crisis
The consequences of poverty on children are devastating. UNICEF reports that 180 million children are likely to live in extreme poverty, and globally, 333 million still face deprivation in basic needs.In Pakistan, millions of children remain out of school and malnourished, depriving them of a chance to escape the cycle of poverty. Without urgent action, the next generation risks inheriting the same struggles faced by their parents.
A Global Wake-Up Call
Since 2010, the UNDP and OPHI have tracked poverty across 112 countries, representing 6.3 billion people. The 2024 MPI serves as a wake-up call to world leaders to prioritize inclusive economic growth, social protection, and peacebuilding.Experts emphasize that ending poverty requires more than aid — it demands justice, opportunity, and sustained policy reform at both national and international levels.The message is clear: Poverty is not inevitable — it is a challenge humanity can and must overcome.
