Summary
In 2013 the World Bank Group set two overarching goals: end extreme poverty by 2030, and promote shared prosperity by boosting the incomes of the bottom 40 percent of the population in each country. This publication reports on global progress towards reaching these goals and eliminating poverty worldwide. Whilst impressive progress has been made in poverty reduction, the report presents evidence that the number of poor worldwide remains unacceptably high, and it is increasingly clear that the benefits of economic growth have been shared unevenly across regions and countries. The authors emphasise the importance of staying focused on the poorest and taking a "multidimensional" view of poverty as a broader and more entrenched problem than just inadequate consumption or a lack of income. The relevance of the US$1.90 poverty line in national contexts and in an increasingly wealthy world is critiqued, and data is presented (and will continue to be reported) at two higher poverty lines of US$3.20 and US$5.50. Three main takeaways are identified: transformational change is needed in Sub-Saharan Africa and conflict-affected areas, the new poverty line measures should be used to enhance policy dialogue, and data investments will be critical.