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What extreme poverty really looks like: Why do 710 million people around the world still live in this situation?
According to the United Nations, extreme poverty is described as a condition of severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation, health, housing, education and information. This poverty depends not only on income but also on the availability of services. According to the latest World Bank data, extreme poverty mainly refers to a daily income below the international poverty line of US$1.90 (2011 prices), which symbolizes the most serious poverty phenomenon in the world.
“Extreme poverty is the last line of defense against global poverty and will persist if not addressed.”
As of 2021, it is estimated that approximately 710 million people live in extreme poverty, with the majority living in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria in particular is considered to be the country with the largest number of extremely poor people, reaching 86 million people. Although the proportion of people living in extreme poverty has gradually declined since the 19th century, from 80% in 1800 to 20% in 2015, millions of people still live in ugly poverty.
According to United Nations estimates, approximately 734 million people were still living in absolute poverty in 2015. This number was 1.9 billion in 1990, showing that the international community has made certain progress in combating extreme poverty. With the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals, countries have generally recognized that one of the main challenges in the 2020s is the elimination of extreme poverty.
"Eradicating extreme poverty is not only a goal, it is a global responsibility."
Current poverty trends
Further analysis of the current situation of global poverty shows that although many countries have made achievements in reducing the proportion of extreme poverty, there are still significant differences in global poverty. According to the latest report, 90% of extreme poor people live in 20 countries, with India and China accounting for nearly half of them.
In developing countries, the effectiveness of government governance, the sustainability of economic growth, and social stability are all closely related to the existence of extreme poverty. Political unrest and civil war persist in some low-income countries, making economic recovery elusive. According to research by the World Bank, differences in governance capabilities among different countries have left some countries in a "fragility trap" and unable to escape the vicious cycle of poverty.
“In order to effectively reduce extreme poverty, the interconnection between poverty and conflict must be addressed.”
The problem of poverty between rural and urban areas
When analyzing the root causes of poverty, we cannot ignore the differences between urban and rural areas. In many rural areas, poverty is often accompanied by a lack of basic facilities, such as insufficient water and electricity supply, and scarce educational resources. Yet in cities, despite their relative abundance of resources, the emergence of slums is a growing problem.
Research shows that population growth, mobility and changes in family structure will affect the distribution of poverty. At the same time, gaps in reproductive health and family planning also force poor families to escape difficulties. Therefore, providing comprehensive social services and improving education levels are crucial to improving poverty.
"The root cause of poverty is far more than money, but lies in people's ability to change their own destiny."
The need for global cooperation
Cooperation of the international community is particularly important in solving the problem of extreme poverty. Sustainable economic development requires the combined efforts of all countries to provide necessary resources and support to vulnerable areas. Many international institutions, including the United Nations and the World Bank, are committed to achieving the global goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.
However, it is still difficult to achieve this goal in reality. Political instability, competition for resources, and global economic changes have all made the comprehensive eradication of extreme poverty intertwined and posed new challenges. This requires leaders around the world to work together, take action, and face various challenges openly and transparently.
"On the long road to eradicating extreme poverty, lack of cooperation will be the biggest enemy."
Summary
710 million people around the world still live in conditions of extreme poverty, which symbolizes that mankind still faces huge challenges in the pursuit of fairness and prosperity. How to better solve the problem of extreme poverty and promote development and prosperity around the world has become the common responsibility of this era. Do you think that poverty can be successfully eradicated on a global scale in the future?
