The United Nations has voiced renewed alarm over worsening global poverty and hunger, cautioning that the world is not on course to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030 — a key objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In a statement posted on its social media platforms Monday, the UN said that about 808 million people — roughly one in every 10 people worldwide — were living in extreme poverty in 2025. The updated figure reflects a revision to the international poverty threshold, now set at less than $3.00 per person per day based on 2021 purchasing power parity.
The organisation reaffirmed that ending extreme poverty everywhere by 2030 remains central to the SDGs. Although significant progress has been made over the past decades, it warned that momentum has slowed considerably. If current trends persist, an estimated 8.9 percent of the global population will still be trapped in extreme poverty by the end of the decade.
The UN also described as “shocking” the return of global hunger levels to figures last recorded in 2005. It pointed to persistently rising food prices in more countries compared with the 2015–2019 period, saying the combined crisis of poverty and food insecurity poses a serious global challenge.
According to the statement, poverty is multidimensional, driven not only by low income but also by unemployment, social exclusion, and heightened vulnerability to disasters, disease, and other shocks that hinder productivity.
The agency stressed that poverty and inequality affect societies far beyond those directly impacted. Growing inequality, it warned, can slow economic growth, weaken social cohesion, fuel political and social tensions, and in some cases contribute to instability and conflict.
On social protection, the UN underscored the need for robust systems to shield vulnerable populations from economic shocks. Despite temporary expansions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 47.6 percent of the world’s population — approximately 3.8 billion people — remained without any social protection coverage as of 2023, including 1.4 billion children.
Amid the global cost-of-living crisis, 105 countries and territories introduced nearly 350 social protection measures between February 2022 and February 2023. However, the UN noted that 80 percent of these were short-term interventions. To meet the SDGs, it said, countries must adopt nationally appropriate, universal, and sustainable social protection systems.
The organisation also called for stronger collaboration among governments, businesses, and citizens. It encouraged individuals to engage actively in policymaking to safeguard their rights and ensure their voices are heard.
Governments, the statement said, should create conditions that foster productive employment and opportunities for poor and marginalised communities. The private sector, it added, plays a crucial role in ensuring that economic growth is inclusive and contributes meaningfully to poverty reduction. Meanwhile, advances in science and innovation have already helped expand access to safe drinking water, reduce water-borne diseases, and improve hygiene.
The UN maintained that sustained, coordinated efforts across all sectors will be essential to lift millions out of poverty and fulfill the pledge to leave no one behind by 2030.