According to a recent report, approximately 4.17 crore people in Bangladesh are living in extreme poverty, with 6.5% of the population experiencing severely dire conditions.
The report, titled “Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024: Poverty Amid Conflict,” was released on Thursday by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative at Oxford University. It paints a bleak picture of the country`s poverty crisis, highlighting poor living standards as the largest contributor to Bangladesh`s poverty rate, accounting for 45.1% of the poverty index. Education and health factors also significantly impact poverty, contributing 37.6% and 17.3%, respectively.
Globally, the report indicates that 110 crore people are living in extreme poverty, with nearly half residing in conflict-affected areas. Notably, 83% of those in extreme poverty are located in African and South Asian countries, underscoring the regional challenges faced.
In South Asia, a staggering 27.2 crore people live in households where at least one member suffers from malnutrition, highlighting the severe health and nutritional issues exacerbating poverty in the region.
The latest UNDP report emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the root causes of poverty and improve living conditions for millions in Bangladesh and beyond.
