Extreme poverty

Women washing clothes in ditch alongside main road in Mumbai, India.

Extreme poverty is the most severe state of poverty. Many cannot meet basic needs for food, water, shelter, sanitation, and health care.^[1] To determine the affected population, the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.25 per day (adjusted for PPP).^[2] The bank estimates that 1.4 billion people currently live under these conditions.^[2]

The eradication of extreme poverty and hunger is the first Millennium Development Goal, as set by 179 United Nations Member States in 2000. Economists and activists consider epidemic diseases (AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis) as crucial factors in and consequences of extreme poverty.^{[citation needed]}

Extreme poverty is most common in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America. The proportion of people in extreme poverty fell from 59 to 19 percent during the 20th century and is now the lowest in history.

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The Despouy Report on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty

See also

• List of countries by percentage of population living in poverty
• Income inequality metrics
• Least Developed Countries
• Make Poverty History
• Millennium Promise
• Poverty line
• Poverty reduction
• The End of Poverty
• Absolute poverty

References

1. ^ Sachs, Jeffrey (2005). The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time Penguin Press Hc ISBN 1-59420-045-9
2. ^ ^{a b} "World Bank Press Release".

• Jones, Gareth Stedman (2004) An End to Poverty? Profile Books LTD ISBN 1-86197-729-8

External links

• WhiteBand.org - Global Call to Action Against Poverty
• Scientific American Magazine (September 2005 Issue) Can Extreme Poverty Be Eliminated?

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