Living in poverty is a reality that many across the world face every single day. Here are 20 global poverty facts to help better understand these realities.

1. According to the U.N., there are around 836 million people living in extreme poverty worldwide.
2. There are many people around the world living on the cusp of becoming impoverished.
3. Millions of people live on just slightly over $1.25 each day.
4. One in five people living throughout developing areas of the world lives on less than $1.25 a day. Those who are facing this reality mainly live in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
5. Poverty reduction has been focused on areas of Asia, with China having the most progress.
6. Half of those who live in extreme poverty are in sub-Saharan Africa. This number is increasing.
7. Out of all the undernourished people throughout the world, 98 percent are those living in developing countries.
8. A majority of the poor around the globe live in rural areas. They are often employed in agriculture and have an inadequate education.
9. Every day about 22,000 children die because of conditions due to poverty.
10. Lack of resources, economic systems, hunger and conflict are some of the causes of poverty in different countries.
11. Poverty is the leading cause of hunger.
12. A growing world population makes it harder for every person to have access to an adequate standard of living.
13. Climate change and natural disasters play a current and future role in poverty issues worldwide.
14. Poverty increases the threat of violence and exploitation towards children.
15. Poverty is not an issue that only affects developing nations. In the world’s richest countries, one out of four children is living in poverty.
16. Social protection only reaches a third of the poorest people.
17. Despite the work that still needs to be done, there has been progress in the reduction of world poverty. One billion fewer people are in extreme poverty compared to two decades ago.
18. One of the goals the U.N. has set is to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.
19. Through all of the visions set by the U.N., they seek to “leave no one behind.”
20. On a global scale, anyone who makes more than $34,000 annually is among the richest one percent in the world.

These 20 global poverty facts help to better understand the global situation facing us today. While there has been progress in global poverty reduction, many challenges still lie ahead.

– Shannon Elder

Photo: Flickr