Poverty and Environmental Pressures: The Overlapping Struggles of the World’s Most Affected Nations

A new analysis highlights how poverty and environmental challenges frequently overlap, creating severe hardships for millions of people across the globe. The data identifies the ten countries most affected by three critical stressors: water risks, unsafe air pollution, and land degradation. These pressures not only undermine livelihoods but also deepen the cycle of poverty, particularly in low-income regions.

Water Risks: A Widespread Burden

Countries such as India, Nigeria, and Uganda face the heaviest burden of water-related risks. India alone accounts for 134 million people living in poverty while exposed to severe water challenges. Nigeria follows with 64 million, while Uganda and Yemen also show significant populations at risk. Smaller nations such as Burundi, Rwanda, and Togo may have lower absolute numbers but still see a high share of their populations simultaneously affected by poverty and water insecurity.

Unsafe Air Pollution: Silent but Deadly

Air pollution remains another pressing environmental challenge. The Democratic Republic of Congo leads with 74 million impoverished citizens exposed to unsafe air quality. Tanzania (22 million), Mozambique (16 million), and Yemen (17 million) also face alarming figures. Even countries with smaller populations, like the Central African Republic and Burundi, record high percentages of their citizens suffering under both poverty and polluted air.

Land Degradation: Eroding Livelihoods

Soil and land degradation further compound the struggles of vulnerable populations. The Democratic Republic of Congo again tops the list with 66 million people impacted. Mozambique (18 million), Tanzania (16 million), and Yemen (15 million) also experience widespread challenges. Countries like Malawi, Niger, and Madagascar show slightly lower absolute numbers, but large portions of their populations remain trapped in poverty and environmental decline simultaneously.

The Bigger Picture

These findings reveal a consistent pattern: poverty and environmental stressors rarely exist in isolation. Instead, they reinforce one another, creating systemic challenges for development. For example, degraded land limits agricultural productivity, which in turn deepens food insecurity and poverty. Similarly, unsafe water and air exacerbate health crises, increasing economic vulnerability.

A Call for Integrated Solutions

Experts argue that addressing poverty cannot be separated from tackling environmental risks. Policies must be designed to provide clean water access, invest in sustainable land use, and reduce air pollution while simultaneously promoting economic resilience. Without such integrated approaches, millions will remain caught in a cycle where environmental degradation and poverty perpetuate one another.

This evidence underscores an urgent global priority: ensuring that efforts to reduce poverty go hand in hand with strategies to protect the environment. For the world’s poorest populations, their future well-being depends on tackling both challenges together.