Global Poverty Numbers Rise for First Time Since 2010 as Population Growth Outpaces Decline

The UN's Multidimensional Poverty Index shows an absolute increase in the number of people living in poverty for the first time since 2010, driven by population growth in high-poverty regions. While the proportion of poor is declining, the total count is rising, concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This reversal signals a setback in global poverty reduction efforts and may pressure aid and development policies.