Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making.

Why poverty is the main problem of the world?

Quick Facts on Global Poverty

Hunger, lack of sanitation and access to clean water and lack of resources for proper health care are the main reasons. Back in 2011, 165 million children were stunted due to malnutrition. ... Infectious diseases continue to cause the deaths of the poor people around the world.

Why is poverty an important problem?

Because poverty and inequities hurt all of us in the long run. They erode social cohesion and create a burden on all taxpayers to pay for poverty reduction, healthcare services, unemployment, crime and homelessness. Our economic system and well-being are at risk of serious deterioration unless we take action now.