According to the latest World Bank data, 23 of the 30 countries with the highest rates of extreme poverty are located in Africa. This means nearly half of the continent’s population survives on less than three dollars a day—an income level that fails to meet even the most basic nutritional, health and educational needs.
At the top of the list is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where 85.3% of the population lives below the poverty line. Despite its vast reserves of cobalt, gold and diamonds, years of civil war, corruption and mismanagement have crippled the country’s economy. Next come Mozambique (82.2%), Malawi (75.4%), Burundi (74.2%), and Zambia (71.7%)—nations blessed with fertile soil and abundant natural resources but plagued by low investment, high inflation and weak institutions.
The Central African Republic (CAR), with 71.6%, also ranks among the world’s poorest. In East Africa, Niger (60.5%) and Uganda (59.8%) struggle with a young population and limited economic opportunities—a gap that could fuel new social crises in the years ahead.
From Zimbabwe to Ethiopia: Nations Trapped in Poverty
In southern Africa, Zimbabwe (49.2%) and Kenya (46.4%) face deep-rooted poverty. Currency collapse, foreign debt and runaway inflation have made economic reform an uphill battle. In the west, Burkina Faso (42.1%), Guinea-Bissau (39.9%), Chad (39.5%), and Ethiopia (38.6%) are struggling with insecurity, migration and the weakness of public services.
On the West African coast, Mali (36.1%) and Togo (34.7%) continue to grapple with the legacies of colonialism and single-product economies. Benin (27.2%) and Cameroon (26.7%), despite agricultural and energy resources, have yet to achieve sustainable development.
From Kosovo to Bangladesh: The Global Face of Poverty
Beyond Africa, extreme poverty remains a global challenge. In Europe, Kosovo is the continent’s poorest country, with 25% of its population living in poverty—an outcome of years of war, unemployment and lack of stable investment. In West Africa, The Gambia (22%) and Côte d’Ivoire (20.9%) suffer from severe social inequality.
Across the Pacific, Vanuatu (19.5%) faces grave economic vulnerability due to climate change, storms and heavy dependence on tourism. Senegal (17.9%), though politically stable, continues to struggle with the unequal distribution of wealth.
In Latin America, Honduras (17%) and Guatemala (9.7%) remain trapped in structural poverty, their economies heavily reliant on raw material exports.
In the Middle East, Syria (16.5%) is the region’s poorest nation—its economy shattered by war and sanctions. In Asia, the Philippines (11.5%) ranks as the poorest country in the continent, with more than 12 million people living in extreme poverty. They are followed by Mauritania (10.2%), Equatorial Guinea (8.8%), and Bangladesh (8%). Ironically, despite its high oil revenues, Equatorial Guinea remains one of the most unequal societies in the world.
Iran’s Place on Global Poverty Scale: Low in Numbers, High in Challenges
In terms of extreme poverty—defined as living on less than three dollars a day in purchasing power parity (PPP)—Iran ranks among the countries with the lowest poverty rates worldwide. According to World Bank data, less than 1% of Iran’s population lives under this threshold, far below the global average of 9% and sharply lower than Africa’s 45% average.
However, this statistic captures only one side of the economic picture. While extreme poverty in Iran is relatively contained, relative poverty and the pressure of living costs—driven by inflation, declining purchasing power and regional inequality—have left a significant share of urban and rural households hovering near or below the poverty line.
Poverty: Roots of a Global Crisis
Development experts argue that extreme poverty does not stem from a lack of resources but from corruption, mismanagement, war and unfair wealth distribution. Without reforms in governance, strong investment in education and healthcare, and serious anti-corruption measures, poverty will remain the dominant reality in many countries—even those overflowing with natural riches.
NOURNEWS