Globally, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty decreased from 36 per cent in 1990 to 10 per cent in 2015. However, the pace of improvement is slowing down, and the 2019 coronavirus crisis is likely to reverse the progress made in poverty eradication over the past few decades. In its latest research, the UNU Institute of world development economics warned that the economic impact of the global pandemic could increase the number of poor people by 500 million, accounting for 8% of the world's total population. The global poverty rate is likely to increase for the first time in 30 years since 1990.

Today, more than 700 million people (10% of the world's population) still live in extreme poverty, and their most basic needs such as health care, education, water and sanitation are still unmet. Most people living on less than $1.90 a day live in sub Saharan Africa. The poverty rate in rural areas of the world is 17.2%, more than three times that in urban areas.

People with jobs may not be able to live a decent life. In fact, in 2018, 8% of the world's employed workers and their families faced extreme poverty. One in five children live in extreme poverty. Ensuring social security for all children and other vulnerable groups is key to poverty reduction.