Post · bonfire.mavnn.eu

Post

Lets start the day with some relatively good news.

The proportion of the global population living in extreme (absolute) poverty has dropped significantly since 1990.

And, as Jostein Hauge (UCambridge) has made clear, China over the period has contributed over half of that improvement.

Certainly too many still live in extreme poverty, and being above the poverty line doesn't make you comfortable, but this remains (qualified) good news.

#poverty #politics #inequality

h/t LinkedIn

Chart: Extreme Poverty fell sharply worldwide - even excluding China.
Extreme poverty is defined as living below the International Poverty Line of $3 per day. This data is adjusted for inflation & differences in living costs between countries.
Shows, Global extreme poverty fell from 43% in 1990 to 10% in 2025; and if we exclude China it still fell from 33% to 12%
[One World in Data] — Chart: Extreme Poverty fell sharply worldwide - even excluding China. Extreme poverty is defined as living below the International Poverty Line of $3 per day. This data is adjusted for inflation & differences in living costs between countries. Shows, Global extreme poverty fell from 43% in 1990 to 10% in 2025; and if we exclude China it still fell from 33% to 12% [One World in Data]

Chris

@[email protected] replied · 5 days ago

@ChrisMayLA6 stupid question but i presume inflation of the most basic goods / rent is already accounted for? they seem to be the ones that get the highest rates

Emeritus Prof Christopher May

@[email protected] replied · 5 days ago

@ASprinkleofSage

yes, and of course, the International Poverty Line used to be a $1 a day, which now is $3... so you can see how that is playing out

facultyofsight

@e740bc4658692ffc94d92f02c699c9395af20bf47093af603005c12496153c42@mostr.pub replied · 5 days ago

This data is complete garbage. It is measured in dollars. If the decrease in poverty is measured in an inflationary fiat currency poverty probably has stagnated or maybe even got worse

Emeritus Prof Christopher May

@[email protected] replied · 5 days ago

@e740bc4658692ffc94d92f02c699c9395af20bf47093af603005c12496153c42

see note on adjustment(s) in graph

Passenger

@[email protected] replied · 5 days ago

@ChrisMayLA6

To the credit of Chinese leadership, a lot of the non-China drop is still due to China: they've become the main international-development funder these days.