Africa still holds two-thirds of global extreme poverty

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One of the most striking facts about global poverty today is its increasing concentration in a single region. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to just 16 percent of the world's population, yet it accounts for a staggering 67 percent of people living in extreme poverty.

This represents a dramatic shift from previous decades. In 2000, Asia was home to most of the world's extreme poor. However, strong economic growth across that continent has led to remarkable poverty reduction, particularly in China and India, while progress in Sub-Saharan Africa has moved at a much slower pace.

Extreme poverty means surviving on less than $2.15 per day, adjusted for local purchasing power. For those affected, this means daily struggles to afford nutritious food, healthcare, safe sanitation and electricity – deprivations that compound each other, creating cycles difficult to escape.