Africa
Africa is the world's second largest continent. Containing 54 countries, Africa is also the second most populated continent with a population of about 1.2 billion people. Amongst those 54 countries, The Central African Republic, Malawi, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Burundi are some of the poorest countries in Africa.
The Central African Republic
In the Central African Republic more than 76% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Violence in the CAR uprooted nearly 1.2 million people and after 4 years 384,000 people are still displaced. Furthermore, more than half of the country's population is in urgent need of humanitarian help.
Malawi
In Malawi approximately 71% of the population lives in poverty. As a result of the poverty, lack of health care and food, the life expectency for someone living in Malawi is 63 years old. According to the World Health Organization, there is only one doctor for every 500,000 people.
The Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo 55% of the population live in poverty, surviving on less than one dollar each day. In the eastern portion of the DRC, fighting and shortage of roads makes it extremely difficult for people to receive aid. In addition, malnutrition is very prevelant in the DRC. Nearly 66% of children lack Vitamin A, which prevents their immunes systems from developing. And 50% of children suffer from a deficieny of other key nutrients such as Vitamin E, iron, and zinc.
Liberia
After enduring two civil wars in the past 30 years, Liberia's infastructure has been ruined and poverty has become widespread. Out of the 4.6 million people living in Liberia, 68% of those people are living in poverty and 35% of the population are malnourished.
Burundi
Following a destructive civil war that left 300,000 poeple dead, Burundi's poverty increased from 48% to 68%. Burundi is a landlocked country without many resources which makes it very difficult to survive. In addition to the high poverty rates, Burundians are forced to live with poor education, a weak legal system, and government corruption.
Asia
Asia is the Earth's largest continent. Throughout its 48 countries there are 4.4 billion people which also makes Asia the most population country in the world. The information below contains statistics on 5 countries in Asia with the most poverty; Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, and Bangladesh.
Afghanistan
Despite common misconception, the number one killer in Afghanistan is poverty. In Afghanistan 36% of the population or 9 million people live in extreme poverty. And a separate 37% of the population live just above the poverty line.
Myanmar
In Myanmar, around 37.5% of the population lives below the poverty line. That equates to over 19 million people. The poverty in Myanmar is very concentrated in rural places. In rural areas, most people rely on agriculture and freelance jobs to make money.
Nepal
In Nepal, about 25.2% of the population, or 7 million people, live in poverty. In 2013, the Human Poverty Index showed that 44% of people living in Nepal are deprived of education, health, and access to resources.
North Korea
While poverty may not be the first thought that comes to mind when thinking about North Korea it is a major issue. In North Korea, 40% of the population, or 24 million people, live in poverty. Because the government in North Korea chooses to dedicate most of their funds to their nuclear program, things like poverty, food shortages, and lack of healthcare is overlooked.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh nearly one third of the population, or 45 million people, live in poverty and a large portion of those 45 million live in extreme poverty. In Bangladesh, the poverty rate is highest in rural areas in comparison to urban areas. Furthermore, malnutrition is a big issue and half of all children suffer from acute malnutrition.
South America
South America is the fourth largest continent in the world. It holds 12 countries and around 422.5 million people making it the fifth most populated continent. The information below includes facts about poverty in Guyana, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Guyana
In Guyana, about 43% of the population lives below the poverty line. And 66% of those in poverty are living in extreme poverty. Prior to 1966, Guyana was under British control and greatly suffers from the ethnic socioeconomic division from when they were a colony to this day. Dominant ethnic groups clash quite often and amongst the 43% of the population living in poverty, indigenous people make up the largest portion.
Paraguay
The total poverty rate in Paraguay is about 28.8%. Poverty is extremely severe in rural areas and affects nearly 40% of the rural population in comparison to 22% in urban areas. Social spending for anti poverty projects is minimal, largely because taxation is lacking, and Paraguay ranks very low against South American countries trying to reduce poverty.
Bolivia
In Bolivia 60% of Bolivians live below the poverty line. Furthermore, indigenous people and those living in rural areas are usually more frequently subjected poverty. Within those people, women and children are the two groups that are most affected by poverty and the most vulnerable.
Ecuador
Despite the oil boom in the 1970's that brought great wealth to Ecuador, the wealth in Ecuador is poorly distrubted and 35% of the population lives in poverty and 17% of the population are at risk of going under the poverty line.
Peru
Government statistics report that one third of Peruvians live below the poverty line. In rural areas poverty is much more common and about 50% of those in rural peru are poor. Women are the most negatively affected by poverty despite the fact they play a central role in the subsistence econonmy by working in agriciculture, tending to livestock, representing about 80% of a family's labor force.
North America
North America is the third largest continent in the world. With 23 countries and 579 million, North America is the continent with the fourth largest population.
Haiti
In Haiti around 59% of people live under the national poverty line and 24% of people live under the extreme poverty line. Factors such as natural disasters, political courruption, and poor usage of funding
El Salvador
In El Salvador, over 25% of children live in extreme poverty and 36% of people living in rural areas experience extreme poverty.
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, around 42.5% of the population lives below the poverty line. Most of the poverty in Nicaragua is rural, and 80% of those living in rural areas live in poverty.
Honduras
According to a world bank study in 2013, 62.8% of Hondurians live in poverty. For every 10 households, 6 of them live in extreme poverty earning less than $2.50 per day.
Guatemala
Studies show that around 75% of the population lives below the poverty line in Guatemala. In Guatemala it is very hard to find a stable job due to outsourcing and only 28% of Guatemalans have a steady job. Another major concern is the increase in fuel and basic food, this increase has led to people not being able afford luxuries and increased violence.
Europe
Europe is the world's sixth smallest continent. There are 46 countries in Europe and about 740 million people. While many countries in Europe are developed countries, there are several located in eastern Europe that are not. Some of those countries include Moldova, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Kosvo, and .
Moldova
Ever since gaining indepence from the Soviet Union in 1990's, Moldova has struggled and poverty is a big issue. In Maldova 427,000 people live below the poverty line.
Kosovo
During the 1990’s, a number of poor economic reforms, the abolition of autonomous institutions, reduced access to external trade and finance severely damaged the already weak economy of Kosovo. Although, Kosovo managed to rebuild their economy, poverty and unemployment are still big issues. About one third of the population lives below the poverty line and one-eigth of the populaiton lives in extreme poverty.
Albania
Albania is currently one of the poorest countries in Europe. Nearly one quarter of the national population lives in extreme poverty, surviving off of two US dollars a day. That is a total of over 800,000 people. The majority of the poverty comes from the rural areas, where a large portion of the population lives.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Due to a war between Serbia and Bosnia, the citizens of Bosnia are still suffering due to the damage inflicted by the war. $100B USD worth of damage was inflicted during this three year war. Half of the population had fled after the war, causing them to be one of the poorest countries in Europe. Furthermore 30% of the population is at risk of poverty.
Ukraine
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine transitioned economies which plunged a major section of the country into poverty. The economy of Ukraine contracted severely, and people in the country struggled to live. By 1999, the GDP of Ukraine fell to less than 40% of what it was in 1991. Since then, the economy has improved since then as Ukraine has managed to reduce absolute poverty and its poverty rate has decreased from 11.9% in 2000 to 2.3% in 2012.
Oceania/Australia
Oceania is the smallest continent in the world. It has 14 countries and a population of 41 million people.
Papua New Guinea
In Papua New Guinea, 39.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Although, nearly 75% of natives survive off of subsistence farming and Papua New Guinea does have many natural resources, it is still ranked as a lower-middle income country. The poverty may better be described as a “poverty of opportunity,” which entails a lack of educational and occupational opportunities for its citizens.