Global MPI 2026: 1.2 Billion People Live in Multidimensional Poverty; What the UNDP–OPHI Report Reveals About India and the World
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2026 finds that children, rural communities and people in Sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of poverty. While 33 countries, including India, have halved their MPI values in less than 15 years, the latest statistical update also reveals an increase in the estimated global number of poor people.
Key Highlights
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What Is the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2026?
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2026: Statistical Update, released on October 12, 2026, is a major international assessment of poverty beyond income.
Published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford, the index measures overlapping disadvantages in three fundamental dimensions of human well-being:
Health
Education
Standard of living
Unlike conventional monetary poverty estimates, which identify people living below a specified income or consumption threshold, the MPI examines whether households experience simultaneous disadvantages such as malnutrition, inadequate sanitation, lack of electricity, limited schooling and unsafe living conditions.
The global MPI was launched in 2010 and has since become an important tool for understanding poverty in its different forms.
The 2026 statistical update covers 108 countries and approximately 6.3 billion people. It uses the latest comparable household survey data available for each country, rather than conducting a new global survey in 2026.
The report is especially significant because it examines not only the total number of people experiencing poverty but also who they are, where they live, how severely they are deprived and whether poverty is declining over time.
Global MPI 2026: The Biggest Findings at a Glance
Indicator | Global MPI 2026 finding |
Countries covered | 108 |
Population covered | Approximately 6.3 billion |
People in multidimensional poverty | 1.2 billion |
Poverty incidence | 18.9% |
People in severe multidimensional poverty | 534 million |
Severely poor as a share of poor people | 44.6% |
People vulnerable to multidimensional poverty | 952 million |
Children living in multidimensional poverty | 617 million |
Children as a share of all poor people | 51.5% |
Poor people living in rural areas | 998 million |
Poor people living in urban areas | 200 million |
Poor people living in middle-income countries | 779 million |
Countries with subnational MPI estimates | 100 |
Subnational regions analysed | 1,360 |
Countries with comparable poverty trends | 89 |
Countries that halved MPI in fewer than 15 years | 33 |
These figures demonstrate that poverty is both widespread and unevenly distributed. Its burden falls disproportionately on children, rural communities and particular regions.
Why Are 1.2 Billion People Classified as Multidimensionally Poor?
The global MPI identifies people as multidimensionally poor when their weighted deprivation score reaches one-third or more of the indicators included in the index.
This does not mean they must be deprived in one-third of the ten indicators by simple count. Each indicator carries a specific weight, so the poverty threshold is calculated using weighted deprivations.
A household might, for example, face disadvantages in nutrition, schooling, sanitation and housing simultaneously.
The MPI captures these overlapping hardships rather than assessing each separately.
The report also distinguishes between different levels of deprivation.
Multidimensionally poor
People whose weighted deprivation score is 33.3% or higher are classified as multidimensionally poor.
Severely multidimensionally poor
People deprived in 50% or more of the weighted indicators are considered severely poor.
In 2026, this category includes approximately 534 million people, or 44.6% of the multidimensionally poor population.
Vulnerable to multidimensional poverty
People whose weighted deprivation score is 20% or more but below 33.3% are considered vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.
The report estimates that another 952 million people fall into this category.
These individuals are not included in the 1.2 billion classified as multidimensionally poor, but they face significant disadvantages and may be at risk of falling into acute poverty.
How Is the Multidimensional Poverty Index Calculated?
The global MPI uses ten indicators across three equally weighted dimensions.
Each dimension contributes one-third of the overall index.
Dimension | Indicator | Weight |
Health | Nutrition | 1/6 |
Health | Child mortality | 1/6 |
Education | Years of schooling | 1/6 |
Education | School attendance | 1/6 |
Standard of living | Cooking fuel | 1/18 |
Standard of living | Sanitation | 1/18 |
Standard of living | Drinking water | 1/18 |
Standard of living | Electricity | 1/18 |
Standard of living | Housing | 1/18 |
Standard of living | Assets | 1/18 |
Health indicators
Nutrition assesses whether the household contains an eligible person identified as undernourished using the relevant survey measures.
Child mortality records whether the household has experienced a qualifying child death within the reference period.
Education indicators
Years of schooling examines whether household members have completed the required minimum years of education.
School attendance identifies households where a school-aged child is not attending school up to the specified educational level.
Standard-of-living indicators
The remaining six indicators assess whether households have access to adequate cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing materials and basic assets.
Together, they measure disadvantages that income figures alone may fail to reveal.
The MPI formula: H × A
The Multidimensional Poverty Index is calculated as:
MPI = H × A
Where:
H (Headcount ratio) is the proportion of people identified as multidimensionally poor.
A (Intensity of poverty) is the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by those people.
For example, if 20% of a country's population is multidimensionally poor and those people experience an average deprivation intensity of 40%, its MPI would be:
0.20 × 0.40 = 0.080
MPI values range from zero to one.
A higher MPI indicates a greater combined burden of poverty incidence and intensity.
This distinction matters because two countries may have similar poverty headcount ratios but different MPI values if the average severity of deprivation differs.
Where Do the World's Multidimensionally Poor People Live?
The report finds that multidimensional poverty is heavily concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Regional distribution of multidimensional poverty
Region | Estimated number of poor people |
Sub-Saharan Africa | 616 million |
South Asia | 393 million |
East Asia and the Pacific | 104 million |
Arab States | 51 million |
Latin America and the Caribbean | 33 million |
Europe and Central Asia | 1.2 million |
Figures are rounded, so regional totals may differ slightly from the reported global total.
Sub-Saharan Africa: The largest poverty burden
Sub-Saharan Africa has both the highest number of multidimensionally poor people and the highest regional poverty incidence.
Approximately 616 million people, representing 51.4% of the region's population, live in multidimensional poverty.
This means that more than half of the world's multidimensionally poor people live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The report also identifies particularly high poverty incidence in countries including Chad, the Central African Republic, Niger, Burundi and Ethiopia.
South Asia: Nearly 393 million people remain poor
South Asia accounts for approximately 393 million multidimensionally poor people.
Although several South Asian countries have recorded substantial reductions over time, the region continues to experience major disadvantages in nutrition, education and living conditions.
The report finds that South Asia accounts for at least one-third of global deprivations among poor people in nutrition, housing and years of schooling.
It also identifies approximately 150 million poor people in South Asia living in households where a school-aged child is not attending school.
This highlights the continuing importance of education access in reducing intergenerational poverty.
Which Countries Have the Highest Multidimensional Poverty?
The report identifies Chad as having the highest national MPI value among the countries covered.
Chad's MPI stands at 0.517, with a poverty incidence of 84.2%.
At the other end of the reported national MPI range, Serbia has an MPI value rounded to 0.000, with an incidence of approximately 0.1%.
An MPI rounded to 0.000 should not automatically be interpreted as proof that absolutely no poverty exists.
The report finds that 21 countries have multidimensional poverty incidence above 50%.
Together, these countries account for approximately 422.2 million poor people.
Eighteen of the 21 are in Sub-Saharan Africa. The three outside the region are Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Sudan.
In 16 of these countries, the average intensity of deprivation among poor people exceeds 50%.
This indicates that poverty in these settings is not only widespread but also particularly severe.
Children Bear a Disproportionate Share of Global Poverty
One of the most important findings of the Global MPI 2026 concerns children.
The report estimates that 617 million children under 18 years of age live in multidimensional poverty.
They account for 51.5% of all multidimensionally poor people, despite representing a much smaller share of the population covered.
Approximately one in three children is multidimensionally poor, compared with about one in seven adults.
Where are poor children concentrated?
Sub-Saharan Africa has approximately 355 million multidimensionally poor children.
Children account for 57.7% of the region's poor population.
South Asia follows with approximately 181 million poor children, representing 46.1% of the region's multidimensionally poor population.
The report also finds that children are overrepresented among poor people in every world region.
In the Arab States, for instance, children account for 56.6% of poor people, although they represent 41.0% of the total population.
These figures show that childhood poverty is not simply a reflection of the overall population distribution.
Children face a disproportionately high risk of experiencing overlapping disadvantages.
Why does child poverty matter?
Deprivations during childhood can have long-lasting consequences.
Inadequate nutrition can affect physical development and learning outcomes.
Poor access to education may reduce future employment opportunities.
Unsafe sanitation, housing and drinking water can increase exposure to health risks.
Consequently, reducing child poverty is essential not only for immediate welfare but also for preventing poverty from continuing across generations.
Rural Poverty Is More Than Four Times as Severe as Urban Poverty on the MPI Measure
The report identifies a major rural–urban divide.
Approximately 998 million poor people, or 83.3% of the global multidimensionally poor population, live in rural areas.
The remaining 200 million, or 16.7%, live in urban areas.
Measure | Rural areas | Urban areas |
MPI value | 0.143 | 0.031 |
Poverty incidence | 28.7% | 7.0% |
Average intensity of deprivation | 50.0% | 43.7% |
The rural MPI value is approximately 4.6 times the urban MPI value.
This disparity reflects differences in both the proportion of people living in poverty and the intensity of their deprivations.
The figures underline the importance of rural health services, schools, sanitation, drinking water, clean cooking energy, electricity and livelihood opportunities.
However, urban poverty should not be overlooked. Approximately 200 million multidimensionally poor people still live in urban areas across the countries covered.
Why Do 65.1% of Poor People Live in Middle-Income Countries?
The Global MPI 2026 challenges the assumption that multidimensional poverty is confined mainly to the world's poorest countries.
According to the report, approximately 779 million multidimensionally poor people, or 65.1% of the global total, live in middle-income countries.
Of these, nearly 671 million live in lower-middle-income countries.
This is an important finding because national income classifications can conceal major inequalities within countries.
A country may experience economic growth while large sections of its population continue to lack adequate healthcare, education, sanitation or housing.
Consequently, higher national income does not automatically eliminate multidimensional poverty.
The report reinforces the need for governments to examine the distribution of development benefits rather than relying exclusively on national economic averages.
What Are the Most Common Deprivations Experienced by Poor People?
The MPI allows researchers to examine the particular disadvantages experienced by multidimensionally poor households.
According to the report, lack of clean cooking fuel is the most widespread deprivation among poor people globally, affecting more than one billion individuals.
Around 600 million of those deprived of clean cooking fuel live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The report also finds that approximately 81.2% of all poor people lacking electricity live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The region accounts for about 70.7% of poor people deprived of adequate drinking water.
Child mortality deprivation, although less common in absolute numbers than cooking-fuel deprivation, is highly concentrated geographically.
Approximately 56.1% of poor people experiencing the child-mortality indicator deprivation live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
South Asia shows a somewhat different pattern.
There, nutrition, schooling and housing contribute prominently to multidimensional poverty.
Why do deprivation patterns matter?
Two regions can have similar MPI values while facing different underlying challenges.
For example, one region may experience severe deprivation in nutrition and child mortality, while another may struggle primarily with drinking water and electricity.
This means effective anti-poverty policies cannot rely on a uniform approach.
Governments need to identify the specific disadvantages affecting different communities and allocate resources accordingly.
Why Are Subnational Poverty Data So Important?
National poverty averages often conceal substantial differences between states, provinces and districts.
The 2026 MPI includes subnational estimates for 1,360 regions across 100 countries.
These estimates cover approximately 98.9% of the population and 99.7% of poor people included in the global update.
The report finds that subnational MPI values range from 0.000 in Kostanay, Kazakhstan, to 0.676 in Kanem, Chad.
In Kanem, the poverty incidence reaches approximately 99.3%.
A striking concentration of poverty
The report identifies 387 subnational regions where more than half the population is multidimensionally poor.
These regions contain approximately 947 million people, or only 14.9% of the total population covered.
Yet they are home to approximately 642 million multidimensionally poor people—53.6% of the global total.
In other words, more than half of all multidimensionally poor people are concentrated in regions containing less than one-sixth of the population covered by the report.
The report also identifies 22 subnational regions where poverty incidence exceeds 90%.
Twenty-one are in Sub-Saharan Africa, while the remaining region is Zabul province in Afghanistan.
Thirteen of the 22 regions are located in Chad.
These findings show why geographically targeted poverty reduction can be more effective than policies based solely on national averages.
Has Global Multidimensional Poverty Increased in 2026?
The 2026 report records an increase in the estimated number of multidimensionally poor people compared with the previous edition.
The reported total rose from approximately 1,147.8 million in 2025 to 1,198.1 million in 2026.
That is a difference of approximately 50.3 million people in the published totals.
However, the two editions do not cover exactly the same set of countries.
Namibia was included in the 2025 edition but excluded from the 2026 edition under the survey recency policy.
After adjusting for that coverage difference, the report calculates a like-for-like increase of 51.5 million people.
Does this mean poverty suddenly increased by 51.5 million in one year?
No.
The report explicitly explains that the change cannot be interpreted as a straightforward one-year deterioration in poverty conditions worldwide.
Of the 51.5 million increase:
15.8 million is attributed to updated population figures in 95 countries without new poverty surveys.
The remaining change comes from 13 countries with newly incorporated surveys, reflecting changes in poverty, population and some differences in indicator coverage.
The report also shows that poverty rates can decline while the absolute number of poor people increases if population growth outpaces poverty reduction.
This occurred in Angola and Zambia over their reported comparison periods.
Therefore, the increase is an important warning about the scale of poverty, but it should not be presented as evidence that 51.5 million people became poor during 2025–26.
Which Countries Are Making Progress Against Multidimensional Poverty?
The report includes comparable poverty trends for 89 countries, covering 167 distinct periods.
It finds that 76 countries experienced a statistically significant reduction in their MPI value during at least one period.
Of these, 54 countries maintained statistically significant reductions in every period observed.
The report also identifies 33 countries that halved their MPI values in fewer than 15 years.
These include India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Viet Nam, Indonesia, the Philippines and several countries in Africa and Latin America.
China
China halved its MPI value over the four-year period from 2010 to 2014.
Its poverty incidence declined from 9.5% to 4.2%.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's MPI value fell from 0.145 to 0.050 over an eight-year period.
Its poverty incidence declined from 30.5% to 11.5%.
Nepal
Across four consecutive periods spanning approximately 10.5 years, Nepal's MPI value fell from 0.133 to 0.056.
Its poverty incidence declined from 30.1% to 13.9%.
Eswatini
Across approximately 15 years, Eswatini recorded a decline in poverty incidence from 38.7% to 8.0%.
These examples demonstrate that substantial reductions in multidimensional poverty are possible across countries with different economic circumstances.
However, progress is not universal.
The report identifies increases in multidimensional poverty during specified periods in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria.
In Nigeria, the report estimates an increase of 17.9 million multidimensionally poor people between 2021 and 2024.
Afghanistan recorded an estimated increase of 5.3 million over its reported comparison period.
Are Children Escaping Poverty Faster Than Adults?
The report examines whether improvements in multidimensional poverty are distributed equally across age groups.
Among 102 country periods where both children and adults experienced statistically significant MPI reductions, children's MPI values declined faster in 84 periods, while adults experienced faster reductions in 18 periods.
This suggests that in many countries, improvements in services and living conditions have benefited children comparatively strongly.
However, the report also identifies periods in which adult poverty declined significantly while child poverty did not.
This is a reminder that national poverty reduction does not necessarily guarantee equal progress for every age group.
Age-disaggregated data are therefore important for identifying communities that may be left behind.
India in Global MPI 2026: What Does the Report Say?
India is among the countries highlighted for achieving a substantial reduction in multidimensional poverty over time.
The report shows that India's MPI value declined from 0.283 in 2005–06 to 0.069 in 2019–21.
Over the same period, the proportion of people identified as multidimensionally poor fell from 55.1% to 16.4%.
India's MPI performance over time
Indicator | 2005–06 | 2015–16 | 2019–21 |
MPI value | 0.283 | 0.122 | 0.069 |
Poverty incidence | 55.1% | 27.7% | 16.4% |
Intensity of poverty | 51.3% | 44.0% | 42.0% |
India's MPI value declined by approximately 75.6% between 2005–06 and 2019–21.
Its poverty incidence fell by 38.7 percentage points over the same period.
The reduction reflects improvements in both the number of people experiencing multidimensional poverty and the average intensity of their deprivations.
How many people in India are multidimensionally poor?
The Global MPI 2026 statistical table reports:
16.4% poverty incidence
MPI value of 0.069
42.0% average deprivation intensity
Approximately 231.8 million poor people in the survey-year population
Approximately 237.8 million poor people when the survey incidence is applied to the report's 2024 population reference
The last figure is a population-adjusted estimate based on an older poverty rate. It is not a direct measurement of poverty in India in 2024 or 2026.
How does India's progress compare internationally?
India is one of the 33 countries identified as having halved their MPI value in fewer than 15 years.
Given India's population size, its long-term decline represents a significant contribution to global multidimensional poverty reduction.
However, the country still had a substantial burden of multidimensional poverty in its latest survey data included in the global index.
The report's India figures therefore show both substantial historical progress and the need for continued action.
Did 415 Million Indians Escape Multidimensional Poverty?
An earlier UNDP–OPHI assessment estimated that approximately 415 million people in India exited multidimensional poverty between 2005–06 and 2019–21.
That estimate is associated with the historical decline in India's global MPI.
It should not be presented as a newly calculated 2026 achievement.
The 2026 report continues to identify India as a country that achieved a major reduction in its MPI value, but its latest included household survey remains the 2019–21 round.
The distinction matters because the report does not establish how many additional people in India may have exited multidimensional poverty after that survey period.
Why Are India's Global MPI Figures Different From National MPI Estimates?
India also publishes a National Multidimensional Poverty Index, developed under its domestic statistical and policy framework.
Although both approaches examine overlapping disadvantages, the national and global indices are not identical.
They may differ in indicator selection, definitions, weighting arrangements, survey periods and population reference years.
Therefore, a figure reported under India's National MPI should not automatically be compared with the Global MPI as though the two were interchangeable.
For accurate reporting, every poverty estimate should identify:
The institution producing the estimate.
Whether it uses the global or national MPI methodology.
The underlying household survey period.
The population reference year.
Whether the figure measures poverty incidence, the MPI value or the absolute number of poor people.
Without these distinctions, even technically correct numbers can create misleading impressions.
What Are the Major Challenges for India?
The Global MPI 2026 findings suggest several policy priorities for India.
1. Address persistent nutrition-related deprivation
Nutrition remains a major component of multidimensional poverty in South Asia.
Efforts to improve maternal health, child nutrition and access to quality healthcare remain central to sustained poverty reduction.
2. Improve educational participation and learning opportunities
The MPI includes both years of schooling and school attendance.
Ensuring that children remain in school and that disadvantaged households have access to education is important for reducing future poverty risks.
3. Strengthen rural infrastructure and basic services
The global rural–urban gap shows the importance of reliable electricity, clean cooking energy, sanitation, safe drinking water and adequate housing.
4. Focus on geographically concentrated deprivation
National averages may conceal differences between states, districts and communities.
Disaggregated data can help identify places where several forms of disadvantage overlap.
5. Update poverty measurement regularly
India's global MPI estimate in the 2026 edition still relies on 2019–21 survey data.
More recent comparable household data would help establish whether the earlier pace of poverty reduction has continued.
These are policy implications drawn from the report's findings, not a list of new policy directives issued by the report.
What Is the Difference Between Multidimensional Poverty and Monetary Poverty?
Monetary poverty measures whether a person's income or consumption falls below a defined poverty threshold.
Multidimensional poverty measures whether people experience overlapping disadvantages in health, education and living standards.
For example, a household may earn more than a specified monetary poverty line but still lack safe sanitation, adequate housing and access to clean cooking fuel.
Conversely, income deprivation and MPI deprivation do not necessarily affect exactly the same households.
The two measures therefore complement each other.
The Global MPI 2026 also includes monetary poverty data in its statistical tables where available, including estimates based on the international $3.00-a-day poverty line.
These should not be confused with the MPI poverty threshold, which is based on weighted deprivations rather than daily income.
How Is the Global MPI Connected to Sustainable Development Goal 1?
The MPI is closely linked to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty.
SDG Target 1.2 calls for countries to reduce by at least half, by 2030, the proportion of men, women and children living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
The 2026 report shows that rapid progress is possible.
Thirty-three countries halved their global MPI values in fewer than 15 years.
However, halving a country's global MPI value is not identical to demonstrating formal achievement of SDG Indicator 1.2.2, which refers to poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
The global MPI is an important complementary measure for tracking progress and identifying overlapping disadvantages.
How Reliable Are the Global MPI 2026 Estimates?
The Global MPI is based on established household survey programmes and published statistical methods.
For the 2026 edition, the data sources include:
Survey source | Countries |
Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys | 49 |
Demographic and Health Surveys | 44 |
PAPFAM surveys | 2 |
National surveys | 13 |
Total | 108 |
The underlying survey years range from 2014 to 2024–25.
The report includes newly updated estimates for 13 countries: Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Zambia.
Important limitation: Data are not equally recent
Of the 108 countries:
102 countries have survey data from 2015 or later.
67 countries have data from 2019 or later.
Only 38 countries have data from 2021–22 or later.
The report also notes that 17 countries, containing approximately 1.98 billion people, still rely on survey data from 2016 or earlier.
This is a significant limitation for interpreting the 2026 update.
It means the index provides the latest available comparable estimates, not a simultaneous measurement of poverty conditions in every country in 2026.
The report's findings are valuable for comparing deprivation patterns and longer-term trends, but individual country estimates should always be read alongside their survey years.
What Does the Global MPI 2026 Mean for Policymakers?
The report provides three broad lessons for poverty reduction.
First, poverty is multidimensional. Policies that improve incomes without addressing health, education, sanitation and living conditions may leave important disadvantages unresolved.
Second, poverty is concentrated. Children, rural communities and particular subnational regions face disproportionately high burdens. Targeted interventions can help direct resources where needs are greatest.
Third, progress is possible but not guaranteed. The experiences of countries that have halved their MPI values show that large improvements can occur. At the same time, recent reversals in some countries and persistent data gaps demonstrate the need for continued investment and careful monitoring.
The findings also underline the importance of combining national economic growth with accessible public services and inclusive development.
Conclusion: Global Poverty Is More Than a Question of Income
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2026 presents a complex picture of development.
On one hand, 1.2 billion people remain in acute multidimensional poverty, including 617 million children. More than eight in ten poor people live in rural areas, while Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the largest regional burden.
On the other hand, the report documents significant progress in dozens of countries.
India's decline in MPI from 0.283 to 0.069 between 2005–06 and 2019–21 is one of the notable examples of long-term improvement.
But the report also demonstrates that progress must be assessed carefully, using comparable data and clearly identified survey periods.
The central message is that poverty reduction is not simply about increasing income. It is about ensuring that people have access to the essential conditions of a dignified life: adequate nutrition, education, healthcare, safe housing, sanitation, clean energy and basic services.
Ending multidimensional poverty requires reducing not only the number of poor people, but also the overlapping disadvantages that shape their everyday lives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Global MPI 2026?
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2026 is a statistical update published by UNDP and OPHI. It measures overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards across 108 countries.
2. How many people are multidimensionally poor in 2026?
The report estimates that approximately 1.2 billion people, or 18.9% of the population covered, live in acute multidimensional poverty.
3. How many countries are included in Global MPI 2026?
The index covers 108 countries, representing approximately 6.3 billion people.
4. What are the three dimensions of the MPI?
The three dimensions are health, education and standard of living, measured through ten weighted indicators.
5. What is the formula for the Multidimensional Poverty Index?
The formula is MPI = H × A, where H represents poverty incidence and A represents the average intensity of deprivation among poor people.
6. Which region has the highest multidimensional poverty?
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest regional poverty burden, with approximately 616 million poor people and a poverty incidence of 51.4%.
7. How many children live in multidimensional poverty?
Approximately 617 million children are multidimensionally poor, accounting for 51.5% of all poor people.
8. What does the Global MPI 2026 say about India?
India's MPI value declined from 0.283 in 2005–06 to 0.069 in 2019–21. Its poverty incidence fell from 55.1% to 16.4% over that period.
9. Is India's 16.4% poverty rate a new estimate for 2026?
No. The 16.4% estimate is based on India's 2019–21 household survey. It is included in the 2026 publication because it remains the latest comparable survey used for India's global MPI calculation.
10. Did global multidimensional poverty increase in the 2026 report?
Yes. The published estimate increased from approximately 1,147.8 million to 1,198.1 million. After adjusting for country coverage, the report identifies a 51.5 million increase, partly explained by population updates and newly incorporated surveys.
11. How many countries have halved multidimensional poverty?
The report identifies 33 countries that halved their MPI values in fewer than 15 years.
12. Is multidimensional poverty the same as income poverty?
No. Income poverty focuses on monetary resources, while multidimensional poverty captures overlapping disadvantages in health, education and living standards. The measures complement each other.
13. Why is rural multidimensional poverty higher?
The report finds a rural poverty incidence of 28.7%, compared with 7.0% in urban areas. Differences in access to basic services and living conditions contribute to this disparity.
14. Which country has the highest MPI in the 2026 report?
Chad has the highest reported national MPI value, at 0.517, with a poverty incidence of 84.2%.
15. Why is the Global MPI important for UPSC and public policy?
It helps explain poverty measurement, human development, social inequality, regional disparities, inclusive growth and SDG 1.2. It is relevant to development economics, governance and social justice.
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