Asia

Asia is home to some of the world’s most economically disadvantaged populations, with over 700 million people living in extreme or multidimensional poverty across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central and West Asia. Despite being the world’s largest and most diverse continent, it also contains many of the most unequal societies, where rural and marginalized communities face severe limitations in healthcare, sanitation, education, and nutrition. In countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of India, malnutrition, unsafe water, and preventable diseases remain widespread, with access to healthcare and clean water being one of the region’s most critical needs. Education gaps also persist, particularly for girls and rural youth as well as the large number of orphans, creating long-term cycles of unemployment and vulnerability. Compared to other continents, Asia’s combination of large population density, climate vulnerability, and deep rural–urban divides makes poverty more complex and multidimensional. Across the continent, families continue to struggle with rising food prices, lack of clean water, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to essential services—issues that demand sustained, targeted interventions to create lasting change.