Visual Story

Extreme Poverty In A 1,000-Person Model

Global poverty reduction has improved over decades, but progress is uneven and fragile.

Economy 2026-02-10

If The World Were 1,000 People: Extreme Poverty

A direct visual of how many people remain below the extreme-poverty line.

Previous story: Urban Vs Rural Living Out Of 1,000 Next story: Highest Education Level In A 1,000-Person World All Economy stories All stories

Why 90 in 1,000 Still Signals Severe Global Hardship

A 90-per-1,000 poverty share still represents a very large number of people with severe consumption constraints. This is a direct signal for nutrition, health, education, and long-run mobility risk.

Progress Is Fragile: What Drives the Next Poverty Trend

The long-term trend has improved, but progress is fragile under inflation, conflict, climate shocks, and debt stress. The next phase depends on whether growth is inclusive and whether social protection systems scale effectively.

Above extreme-poverty line: 910 per 1,000

Raw count: about 7.37 billion people. Permille: 910 per 1,000. Category membership: People above the extreme-poverty threshold in the source methodology; this does not imply economic security. Significance: Large numbers just above the line can still be shock-vulnerable, so this category includes many households at risk of reversal.

In extreme poverty: 90 per 1,000

Raw count: about 729 million people. Permille: 90 per 1,000. Category membership: People below the extreme-poverty threshold used in the World Bank series referenced by this story. Significance: This category identifies where deprivation is deepest and where policy leverage can deliver large welfare gains.

Sources