By Bunmi Yekini
A new global report reveals that 455 million of the world’s poorest people live in conflict-affected countries, where violence and instability are reversing decades of progress in poverty reduction. Released on October 17 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), the 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) offers a stark warning about the devastating link between conflict and poverty. The study, covering 112 countries, shows that nearly half of the world’s 1.1 billion people living in acute poverty are trapped in regions struggling with war, fragility, and low peacefulness.
The MPI report, which covers 112 countries and over 6.3 billion people, provides groundbreaking insights into the overlapping crises of poverty and conflict. It found that out of the 1.1 billion people living in acute poverty worldwide, 40 percent are in countries experiencing war, fragility, or low peacefulness.
“Conflicts have intensified and multiplied in recent years, reaching new highs in casualties, displacing record millions of people, and causing widespread disruption to lives and livelihoods,” stated Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “Our new research shows that of the 1.1 billion people living in multidimensional poverty, almost half a billion live in countries exposed to violent conflict. We must accelerate action to support them.”
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The report underscores how conflict exacerbates all dimensions of poverty. In war-torn regions, over one in four poor people lack access to electricity, compared to just over one in twenty in more stable settings. The disparity is equally grim in other areas such as child mortality and education. The analysis found that child mortality in conflict zones (8 percent) is more than seven times higher than in peaceful regions (1.1 percent).
Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI, explained, “This study provides the first measured global analysis at this scale examining how in conflict settings, multidimensionally poor people are affected. And it is sobering. In countries at war, over one in three people are poor (34.8 percent), whereas in non-conflict-affected countries, it’s one in nine (10.9 percent).”
The ripple effects of conflict on poverty are particularly alarming in countries like Afghanistan, which has seen a sharp rise in multidimensional poverty. The report notes that between 2015 and 2023, 5.3 million Afghans fell into poverty, with nearly two-thirds of the population now living in deprivation.
Highlighting the broader implications, Alkire added, “Poverty reduction is slower in conflict settings – so the poor in these areas are being left behind. These numbers compel a response: we cannot end poverty without investing in peace.”
The report also reveals the heavy toll on children. Of the 1.1 billion people living in acute poverty, more than half (584 million) are children under 18. Globally, nearly 28 percent of children live in poverty, a stark contrast to 13.5 percent of adults.
While some countries have made strides in poverty reduction, conflict-affected regions remain in peril. The findings emphasize the urgent need for global attention, targeted resources, and interventions to break the vicious cycle of conflict and poverty. “We need resources and access for specialized development and early recovery interventions to help break the cycle of poverty and crisis,” urged Steiner.