India has successfully lifted over 17.1 crore people out of extreme poverty in the last ten years, according to the World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity report. Five states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh — accounted for two-thirds of the poverty reduction.
In rural areas, extreme poverty dropped from 18.4% in 2011-12 to 2.8% in 2022-23, while in urban areas, it fell from 10.7% to 1.1% during the same period. The report also highlighted positive employment growth since 2021-22 and a rise in self-employment, especially among rural workers and women, boosting economic participation.
