The UN currently defines “extreme poverty” as living on less that $1.90 a day. 700 million people (10% of the world’s population) now live in extreme poverty.
The good news: Extreme poverty have been on the decline for decades–from 36% in 1990 to 10% in 2015 to 7% in 2019.
The bad news: according to the World Institute for Development Economics Research,
“the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased globally in thirty years.”
We tend to be caught up in our own struggles with COVID-19 and the changes to our lifestyles. We don’t notice what’s happening elsewhere.
Lord, You see every person who’s living in extreme poverty. We pray for an end to the pandemic for their sakes as much as our own. Show us how to help, in Jesus’ name.
