Over the past decade, South Asia has achieved significant progress in reducing extreme child poverty, yet broader economic vulnerability remains widespread. According to a joint World Bank and UNICEF report titled “Ten Years of Progress and Challenges: Insights into Global Child Poverty,” while extreme child poverty in the region fell from around 25 percent in 2014 to just over 8 percent in 2024, nearly 85 percent of children continue to live below the USD 8.30/day poverty threshold. This indicates that a large proportion of children remain susceptible to economic shocks, with limited access to essential services such as education, health, and nutrition. India has been a major contributor to the decline in extreme poverty, reducing its rate from over 25 percent in 2011 to slightly above 5 percent by 2022, yet the broader vulnerability of children persists despite these gains.
Globally, children remain disproportionately affected by poverty, accounting for more than half of all people living on less than USD 3.00/day while representing only 30 percent of the population. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, particularly in regions where economic vulnerability is high and social safety nets are weak. The report emphasizes that progress in reducing extreme poverty does not necessarily translate into protection against broader forms of deprivation, leaving many children just a small income shock away from falling back into extreme poverty.
Regional disparities are striking. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicenter of extreme child poverty, with over 52 percent of children living below USD 3.00/day in 2024, virtually unchanged from 2014. The region houses three out of four children living in extreme poverty, despite representing only 23 percent of the global child population. By contrast, East Asia and the Pacific have made substantial gains, with extreme child poverty dropping from nearly 13 percent to 4 percent. Indonesia alone reduced its extreme poverty rate from nearly 26 percent in 2015 to 7 percent in 2024, lifting approximately 20 million children out of extreme poverty. Despite these improvements, broader economic vulnerability remains a pressing concern, particularly in South Asia, where nearly 85 percent of children live under USD 8.30/day and face limited access to essential services.
The report underscores the importance of comprehensive policy interventions that address both extreme poverty and broader vulnerability. Investments in human capital, healthcare, nutrition, education, and social protection systems are essential to sustain progress and prevent children from falling back into poverty. Countries in South Asia are urged to expand social safety nets and implement programs that enhance resilience against economic shocks. The findings also reveal that multidimensional deprivation—such as lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare—further compounds children’s vulnerability, even among those above the extreme poverty line.
While some countries have made remarkable strides, others lag due to differences in economic growth, policy implementation, and social protection coverage. Sustained investment, targeted interventions, and strong monitoring systems are critical to addressing these gaps. Accurate data on child poverty and economic vulnerability enables governments to allocate resources effectively, track progress, and design policies that reach the most vulnerable children.
In conclusion, South Asia’s reduction in extreme child poverty over the past decade is a notable achievement, yet the fact that nearly 85 percent of children live below USD 8.30/day underscores persistent economic vulnerability. Addressing this challenge requires sustained policy focus, investments in social protection and human capital, and comprehensive interventions to ensure that the progress made translates into lasting improvements in child well-being.
