Global multidimensional poverty rises by 51.5 million, Nigeria reverses gains

In 2026, the number of people globally experiencing multidimensional poverty surged by 51.5 million to reach 1.2 billion, as outlined in the latest update of the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). Initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) in 2010, the MPI assesses poverty based on deprivation across ten interconnected indicators covering health, education, and living standards.

This update, published on Monday, reveals that out of the 1.2 billion affected, 617 million, or over half, are children, with 83% residing in rural regions.

Nigeria, previously a country that made significant strides in reducing poverty during the 2010s, now finds itself among those where earlier gains have reversed. The country witnessed an increase in both its poverty rate and the number of individuals living in multidimensional poverty during the 2020s, marking a concerning shift after substantial reductions in the previous decade.

Factors contributing to this decline include population growth and revised population estimates, which added 15.8 million more people to the poverty count.

In 95 countries where no new survey data were available for the latest update, the total number of multidimensionally poor individuals increased by 15.8 million due to expanding populations. UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo emphasized the need for renewed global action, describing the rise as a warning sign.

The MPI measures poverty beyond mere income levels by evaluating deprivation in health, education, and living standards. A person is classified as multidimensionally poor if they experience deprivation in at least one-third of these indicators. The 2026 update encompasses 108 countries in developing regions, accounting for 78% of the world's population.

Nigeria's previous reductions in multidimensional poverty during the 2010s were short-lived, as both its poverty rate and the affected population increased in the 2020s, as reported.

While the global trend reveals a troubling increase, the report underscores that substantial progress against multidimensional poverty is still achievable. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 1.2 aims to reduce by at least half the proportion of people living in poverty in all its forms and dimensions by 2030. Among the 89 countries with data tracking changes in multidimensional poverty over time, 33 have managed to halve their MPI values in under 15 years, including six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The latest global findings are set against the backdrop of persistent concerns about poverty in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. The bank attributes this trend to households failing to keep pace with the rising cost of living and weak growth in agriculture, where a significant portion of poor Nigerians are employed.