UN: Millions of Women and Girls Worldwide Living in Extreme Poverty
UN Women says around 426 million women and girls worldwide are living in extreme poverty, while women also have limited representation in economic decision-making aimed at reducing poverty.
The organisation said in a post on X on Saturday (17 October), marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, that the figure relates to 2026 and called for greater investment in social protection, healthcare and education for women and girls.
According to UN Women, in 2024 around 9.9 per cent of women and 9.5 per cent of men worldwide were living in extreme poverty. The gap was wider among people aged 15 to 34, with the poverty rate among women in this age group reported to be nearly two percentage points higher than among men.
UN Women says that despite a decline in global poverty over the past decade, women are not only more likely to experience poverty but are also less represented in shaping policies designed to address it.
According to the organisation, women account for only 19 per cent of ministers responsible for economic affairs worldwide and 40 per cent of ministers responsible for social protection.
The organisation stressed that investment in education, healthcare and social protection systems can play an important role in reducing poverty among women and girls.
The figures come as Taliban restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment in Afghanistan have limited their opportunities to earn an income and achieve economic independence, increasing women’s economic vulnerability.
