We’re Getting Extreme Poverty Out of Children’s Way

Around the world, 95 million children have escaped extreme poverty since the start of the century. A powerful sign that decades of global investment in children’s health, education and protection are paying off.

“This achievement shows that child poverty is not inevitable. It can be ended through smart policies and shared commitment,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

Wider access to schooling, healthcare, clean water and social protection programmes has transformed lives across low- and middle-income countries, enabling millions of families to rise above hardship. Cash transfers, nutrition initiatives and community-based support systems have helped break cycles of deprivation. At the same time, rapid economic growth in parts of Asia and Africa has expanded opportunities for the next generation. The milestone demonstrates that sustained cooperation can turn global goals into real progress — proving a world free from child poverty is within reach.