Kenya: Global Multidimensional Poverty Hits 1.2 Billion As Child Hardship Deepens

What the report says

A new UNDP and University of Oxford update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index says acute multidimensional poverty has risen worldwide for the first time since the index began in 2010, reaching 1.2 billion people. The report, carried by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica, was published on 12 October 2026 and says children account for 617 million of those affected, more than half the total.

The index looks beyond income and measures overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards. The report says 83% of people in multidimensional poverty live in rural areas, where access to basic services and infrastructure remains a major issue. It also notes that the latest global count increased by 51.5 million compared with the previous like-for-like update, though part of the change reflects revised population estimates and other technical factors in some countries.

UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said the figures point to the need for renewed action on the connected hardships faced by poor households, including hunger, missed schooling and limited access to water, electricity and other essentials. The report says some countries, including Egypt, Nepal and Tajikistan, have reduced poverty significantly, while others such as Nigeria have seen reversals. It argues that progress is possible when governments address poverty across multiple dimensions together.

The findings are relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goal calling for a cut in poverty in all its forms by 2030. The report suggests that stronger social protection and expanded access to services will be central if countries are to slow child hardship and reduce deprivation across generations.