Global Multidimensional Poverty Rises to 1.2 Billion, but Tunisia Ranks Among Africa’s Least Affected
With only 1% of its population living in multidimensional poverty, Tunisia stands among the least affected African countries, trailing only the Seychelles. At the opposite end of the continent, several nations report rates exceeding 70%. Globally, the situation is more concerning: 1.2 billion people live in poverty that extends far beyond a lack of income.
Global Multidimensional Poverty on the Rise
Global multidimensional poverty is increasing. According to the 2026 update of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), published on October 12 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 1.2 billion people out of the 6.3 billion covered by the study live in acute multidimensional poverty. This represents 18.9% of the population across the 108 countries analyzed.
This increase of 51.5 million people compared to the previous update with a comparable scope marks the first rise since the index was launched in 2010. However, the report notes that this trend reflects a combination of newly available surveys, demographic changes, and shifts in living conditions.
Tunisia: A Leader in African Poverty Reduction
With a multidimensional poverty rate of 1%, Tunisia ranks second among the least affected African countries, behind the Seychelles, where the rate is estimated at 0.9%, according to 2026 MPI data.
Other African countries with relatively low rates include:
- Algeria: 1.4%
- Egypt: 1.5%
- Libya: 2%
- South Africa: 6.3%
- Morocco: 6.4%
These figures place Tunisia in a favorable position regarding the deprivations measured by the index. However, this does not mean the country is free from poverty or inequality. The MPI rate does not measure unemployment, purchasing power, or all forms of economic precarity.
Tunisian data is based on a 2023 survey. According to the UNDP’s national profile, approximately 119,000 people were considered multidimensionally poor at that time, while another 345,000 were vulnerable to this type of poverty. In other words, a portion of the population remains at risk of falling into a situation of multiple deprivations.
Stark Contrasts in Sub-Saharan Africa
The situation is radically different in several Sub-Saharan African countries. Available national data reveals very high levels of multidimensional poverty, particularly in Chad, Niger, and the Central African Republic.
- Chad: The MPI reaches 0.517, with 84.2% of the population considered multidimensionally poor, based on 2019 survey estimates.
- Niger: The rate reaches 79.9%.
- Central African Republic: The rate stands at 80.4%, according to national data included in the index’s statistical tables.
These levels reflect the accumulation of deprivations across several essential areas: education, nutrition, access to electricity, drinking water, sanitation, and housing conditions. They also highlight the structural challenges these economies face in developing human capital and improving living standards.
Regionally, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 616 million people living in multidimensional poverty, representing 51.4% of its population. This makes it the most affected region in the world, according to the 2026 report.
Important Methodological Notes
The MPI is a composite indicator, not an official ranking of country wealth or economic performance. The national surveys used are not all conducted in the same year: for example, Chad’s results are based on 2019 data, while Tunisia’s are based on a 2023 survey.
Comparing rates allows for a relative positioning of countries, but it does not provide a simultaneous snapshot of their social situations. It is also crucial to distinguish multidimensional poverty from monetary poverty, which measures the proportion of people living below a specific income threshold.
