The share and number of people living in multidimensional poverty in Tajikistan declined significantly between 2017 and 2023, according to the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.
According to UN News, Tajikistan was among three countries, alongside Egypt and Nepal, where updated assessments showed statistically significant reductions in both the proportion of people experiencing multidimensional poverty and their total number.
In contrast, neighboring Kyrgyzstan recorded a statistically significant deterioration in its multidimensional poverty indicators between 2018 and 2023. It was among five countries worldwide to experience such a trend during one of the periods examined.
What is multidimensional poverty?
Unlike conventional poverty measures based primarily on income, the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) assesses several aspects of people’s living conditions, including access to education, healthcare, clean drinking water, electricity, sanitation, adequate nutrition and quality housing.
A person is considered multidimensionally poor if they experience deprivation in at least one-third of the weighted indicators included in the index.
A decline in multidimensional poverty therefore reflects improvements not only in material well-being but also in access to essential services and basic living conditions.
Global number of people in poverty rises by 51.5 million
Despite the progress recorded in Tajikistan, the global situation has deteriorated.
According to the 2026 report, approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide live in acute multidimensional poverty — 51.5 million more than in the previous update. This marks the first increase in the global total since the index was introduced in 2010. Population growth partly explains the rise.
Children account for more than half of those affected, with 617 million living in multidimensional poverty. Around 83% of people experiencing such deprivation live in rural areas.
The figures reflect persistent shortages of food, clean water and electricity, as well as limited access to education and other essential services.
Which countries have reduced poverty?
Despite the worsening global figures, several countries have made substantial progress.
Of the 13 countries covered by updated assessments in 2026, five recorded significant reductions in the proportion of their populations living in multidimensional poverty: Tajikistan, Egypt, Nepal, Angola and Zambia. In Angola and Zambia, however, the absolute number of people affected increased because of population growth.
Overall, data covering 89 countries show that 33 have reduced their MPI value by more than half in less than 15 years.
UNDP experts say these results demonstrate that substantial progress in reducing multidimensional poverty is possible even amid unfavorable global trends.