The United Nations has expressed new concerns over the rise in hunger and poverty worldwide, stating that the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals’ primary goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030.
The United Nations estimated that 808 million people, or one in ten people globally, were living in extreme poverty in 2025 in a statement posted on its social media accounts on Monday.
The number is an increase above previous projections in the wake of the worldwide poverty line being updated to be less than US$3.00 per person per day at 2021 purchasing power parity.
“Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal aim of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the agency stated.
While pointing that extreme poverty has witnessed remarkable declines over recent decades, it warned that progress has slowed significantly.
“If current trends continue, 8.9 per cent of the world’s population will still live in extreme poverty by 2030,” the statement added.
It also described the dual problem of poverty and food insecurity as a major worldwide concern, highlighting the ongoing rise in food prices across a greater number of nations compared to the 2015–2019 timeframe.
According to the United Nations, poverty has multiple causes, such as social isolation, unemployment, and the increased susceptibility of some groups to illnesses, disasters, and other shocks that hinder their ability to be productive.
The group emphasised that the effects of poverty and inequality extend much beyond those who are directly impacted.
“As human beings, our well-being is linked to each other,” it stated, warning that growing inequality is detrimental to economic growth, undermines social cohesion, increases political and social tensions, and in some cases drives instability and conflict.
On social protection, the UN said strong systems are essential to mitigate shocks and prevent people from falling into poverty.
Additionally, the United Nation demanded increased participation from citizens, businesses, and governments. In order to guarantee that their rights are upheld and their opinions are acknowledged, it exhorted people to actively engage in the governing process.
It stated that governments have the power to establish favourable conditions that lead to the creation of jobs and gainful work for the underprivileged and disenfranchised.
The international organization stressed that in order to pull millions out of poverty and guarantee that no one is left behind by 2030, concerted and persistent efforts across sectors are still essential.
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