Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Poverty exists everywhere, but there has been progress.

Efforts are being made to eliminate extreme poverty, measured as $1.25 a day in 2005 prices (revised from the previous $1.08 a day in 1993 prices). Governments, along with the international community, have made poverty alleviation a top priority in their development strategies.

The number of people living in extreme poverty fell from 1.9 billion in 1981 to 1.8 billion in 1990, and to about 1.4 billion in 2005. This significant reduction in poverty disguises large regional differences. Millions of people are trapped in poverty, most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Poor health and lack of education that deprive people of productive employment; depleted and spoiled environmental resources; and corruption, conflict, and misgovernance that waste public resources and discourage private investment also trap people in poverty.

Even as the first target of the Millennium Development Goals appears in sight, the efforts to eliminate poverty must be renewed.

Target 1.A
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day.

Target 1.B
Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people.

Target 1.C
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.