A household is considered poor when their total income is inadequate to acquire the resources necessary to meet locally established standards. The international poverty line was originally set at people making less $1 a day, to account for changes in PPP this figure has risen to $1.90 a day as of October 2015. It is estimated that in 2015 there were 702 million people living in extreme poverty. Though extreme poverty is declining, primarily thanks to economic growth in China and India, it remains an important challenge particularly in fragile countries of the sub-Saharan region. In line with current trends, the target of the first Sustainable Development Goal, to “end extreme poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030”, will be difficult to achieve.
Key Insight
By 2030, poverty will remain mainly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.