Extreme poverty is the most severe type of poverty, defined by the United Nations (UN) as "a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education". The international community defines extreme poverty as living below $1.90 a day, as measured in 2011 international prices (equivalent to $2.12 in 2018) . This number is periodically updated to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living; it was originally defined at $1.00 a day in 1996.
According to the World Bank, less than 10% of the worlds population was living in extreme poverty in 2015, down from 37% in 1990 and 44% in 1981. However, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global poverty rate increased sharply from 8.3% in 2019 to 9.2% in 2020, representing the first increase in extreme poverty since 1998 and the largest increase since 1990. Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To achieve this goal, massive global investment is required in social assistance, education, and pro-poorest economic growth.
