Poverty Concentration Shifts: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia Face the Heaviest Burdens

A new World Bank analysis highlights stark regional differences in global poverty, showing how the burden is distributed across regions at two international poverty thresholds: $2.15 per day (extreme poverty) and $6.85 per day (moderate poverty).

Extreme Poverty ($2.15 per day)

The chart on the left reveals that Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia dominate global extreme poverty.

Sub-Saharan Africa carries the largest share, reflecting structural challenges such as weak infrastructure, limited access to education, conflict, and climate vulnerability.

South Asia also accounts for a significant portion, although progress in countries like India and Bangladesh has reduced its share compared to previous decades.

Other regions — including East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa — contribute relatively small slices, underscoring the success of past poverty reduction programs in those areas.

Moderate Poverty ($6.85 per day)

The chart on the right paints a broader picture of vulnerability. At this higher threshold, poverty is spread more evenly across the globe.

South Asia remains the largest contributor, with many individuals escaping extreme poverty but still struggling to reach middle-income stability.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to hold a major share, reflecting ongoing hardship.

Other regions, including East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa, all register larger slices compared to the $2.15 threshold, showing that millions in these regions remain at risk of slipping back into poverty due to economic shocks.

Key Takeaways

1. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicenter of extreme poverty, where most people live on less than $2.15 a day.

2. South Asia faces widespread vulnerability, with hundreds of millions above the extreme poverty line but still under $6.85, highlighting fragile progress.

3. Global poverty is multidimensional — while East Asia dramatically reduced extreme poverty, moderate poverty remains a concern across multiple regions.

4. Policy implications: These findings emphasize the need for region-specific solutions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, interventions must tackle structural barriers and climate resilience. In South Asia, policies should focus on sustaining growth, expanding social safety nets, and preventing backsliding.

A Global Call for Action

The World Bank’s data underscores that ending extreme poverty is only one step; ensuring that people rise into sustainable prosperity is the greater challenge. With economic uncertainty, inflation, and climate-related risks, billions remain vulnerable.

Reducing both extreme and moderate poverty will require coordinated global investment in education, healthcare, jobs, and social protections, particularly in regions where the burden is heaviest.