Islamabad: According to the latest World Bank report, the poverty rate in Pakistan has dangerously surged to 44.7%, up from the previous level of 39.8%.
The report states that the World Bank has revised the poverty threshold for lower-middle-income countries, increasing the per capita daily income line from $3.65 to $4.20. As a result, a larger portion of the population now falls below the poverty line.
Following this new benchmark, poverty in Pakistan has climbed to 44.7%. The report highlights that 16.5% of the population earns less than $3 a day, placing them among the poorest segment of society. Additionally, 88.4% of Pakistanis earn less than $8.50 per day, excluding them from the upper-middle-income category.
These statistics are based on the 2017 census, while Pakistan’s most recent census was conducted in 2023. According to the 2017 census, the country’s total population was 206 million. At that time, 85 million people were classified as living in poverty. That number has now risen to approximately 95 million.
