Abject poverty is the most severe form of poverty, depriving children and families of their basic human needs such as food, safe water, medical care and shelter.
Millions of people, including children, live in abject poverty around the world, with most living in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
No child should face abject poverty. It hinders growth, keeps them hungry and sick, places them at risk of violence, prevents them from getting an education and destroys their hope.
What Is Abject Poverty?
Abject poverty, also known as extreme poverty, is the most severe form of poverty. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of “abject” is “sunk to or existing in a low state or condition: very bad or severe.”
Those who live in abject poverty are severely deprived of basic human needs, such as food, safe water, medical care and shelter. Much more than a low income, abject poverty often means the complete absence of these essentials. Abject poverty is life-threatening, marked by desperation and hopelessness.
An Example of Abject Poverty
Take a moment to put yourself in the shoes of a young child living in abject poverty.
On a hard floor, you wake up in the middle of the night, shivering with wet clothing stuck to your back. You can see the stars through the holes in the tarp covering your family’s makeshift shelter. As rain drips onto your forehead, your belly growls. You only had a bit of rice today.
Your mouth is severely dry, and you consider stepping outside to drink from the puddles created by the rain. But the last time you did that, you got so very sick. And with the nearest clinic miles and miles away, you may not survive an illness this time.
Salty tears mix with raindrops and drip down your cheeks. It will always be this way, you think. There’s no way out.
You must go miles to fetch water that might be safe for your family to drink tomorrow. Soon, you’ll need to find work to help provide for them too. School is out of the question, so other children will learn to read and eventually get jobs or go to college while you continue to live in this nightmare and barely scrape by.
As you drift back into a fitful sleep, dreams don’t come — they’ve been stolen by the reality of poverty.
Abject Poverty Facts & Statistics
This severe, life-threatening form of poverty affects millions. According to the World Bank, 831 million people live in extreme poverty, forced to survive on less than $3.00 per day. And according to UNICEF, children account for nearly half of that number, with 412 million living in extreme poverty across the globe.
Out of those 412 million children, most live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Those regions account for almost nine out of 10 children living in extreme poverty.
According to the World Bank, 67% of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from extreme poverty.
More than 1 in 5 children in low- and middle-income countries are severely deprived of critical needs for their health, such as safe sanitation. For example, 65% of children lack access to a simple toilet.
Conflict is a serious factor contributing to child poverty rates. According to UNICEF, rates of extreme poverty among children in fragile and conflict-affected countries rose from 46% to 50.2% in 2024, while rates fell in countries not classified as fragile or conflict-affected.
The Devastating Impact of Abject Poverty on Children
The above stats highlight the hold abject poverty has on children and families around the world. But how does abject poverty impact a child’s day-to-day life?
Abject poverty:
Hinders healthy growth: Before a child is born, issues such as maternal malnutrition and disease hinder a baby’s ability to survive. If children survive, these issues continue after birth, often leading to stunting (low height) and wasting (low weight).
Keeps children hungry and sick: Children living in poverty often only eat one meal a day. Unsafe water and a lack of clean sanitation facilities result in preventable diseases like diarrhea. And without access to medical care, many children lose their lives. Sadly, preventable infectious diseases remain a leading cause of death for children under the age of five.
Places children at risk of harm: Children in poverty are more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher crime rates and fewer safe adults, increasing their chance of witnessing violence, being targeted by traffickers or gangs, or suffering exploitation. Many children must also work dangerous jobs to help support their families, putting them at risk of injury or death.
Prevents children from getting an education: When families struggle to afford food, safe water and shelter, school is much less of a priority. In many regions, requirements like uniforms, books and transportation are costly and sometimes impossible to get. Children may also need to help gather water, care for younger siblings or work instead of going to school.
Steals children’s dreams: The constant state of survival mode, mixed with a lack of opportunity, prevents children from thinking about their futures. When all they can manage to think about is today, having dreams feels like a luxury they just can’t afford.
When you’re desperately hungry and sick without safe community or the ability to dream of a brighter future, hopelessness sets in.
Hopelessness convinces children that there’s no way to change their circumstances. So they give up trying, making them more likely to live in poverty as adults. It’s a vicious cycle that sadly keeps families trapped for generations.
Compassion Brings Hope to Children in Extreme Poverty
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40, NIV
No child should face the devastation of abject poverty. As a Christian ministry, we know we’re called to help. Children living in extreme poverty are among the most vulnerable in the world — the least of the least.
And that’s why, at Compassion, we’re dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
How do we do it? We equip churches in impoverished communities around the world to reach vulnerable children with the hope of the gospel and practical care customized to fit each child’s unique needs.
Children receive critical care such as medical exams, malnutrition monitoring and nutrition support, protection from harm and disaster relief while they hear the gospel and experience Jesus’ love for them.
Through their local church, children receive the consistent spiritual, physical, emotional and mental care they need to reach their full potential. This includes meeting their right-now needs, such as nutrition and knowing God’s love, and preparing them for the future by offering education and mentorship.
With this care, children begin to see hope despite their circumstances. They’re empowered to become thriving followers of Jesus, equipped to overcome extreme poverty and help others do the same.
According to a study of 99 Compassion alumni in the Dominican Republic, 97% of those surveyed said they were released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
While it’s true that millions of children live in abject poverty, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can make a difference by helping the church love and care for children in desperate need.
