Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1), one of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015, calls for the end of poverty in all forms. The official wording is: “No Poverty”. Member countries have pledged to “Leave No One Behind”: underlying the goal is a “powerful commitment to leave no one behind and to reach those farthest behind first”.
SDG 1 aims to eradicate every form of extreme poverty including the lack of food, clean drinking water, and sanitation. Achieving this goal includes finding solutions to new threats caused by climate change and conflict. SDG 1 focuses not just on people living in poverty, but also on the services people rely on and social policy that either promotes or prevents poverty.
The goal has seven targets and 13 indicators to measure progress. The five outcome targets are: eradication of extreme poverty; reduction of all poverty by half; implementation of social protection systems; ensuring equal rights to ownership, basic services, technology and economic resources; and the building of resilience to environmental, economic and social disasters. The two targets related to means of implementation SDG 1 are mobilization of resources to end poverty; and the establishment of poverty eradication policy frameworks at all levels.
Despite the ongoing progress, 10 percent of the world’s population live in poverty and struggle to meet basic needs such as health, education, and access to water and sanitation. Extreme poverty remains prevalent in low-income countries, particularly those affected by conflict and political upheaval. In 2015, more than half of the world’s 736 million people living in extreme poverty lived in Sub-Saharan Africa. The rural poverty rate stands at 17.2 percent and 5.3 percent in urban areas (SDG Report, 2016).
One of the key indicators that measure poverty is the proportion of population living below the international and national poverty line. Measuring the proportion of the population covered by social protection systems and living in households with access to basic services is also an indication of the level of poverty.
| TARGET(S) | INDICATOR(S) |
|---|---|
| 1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day | 1.1.1 Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographic location (urban/rural) |
| 1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions | 1.2.1 Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age 1.2.2 Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions |
| 1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable | 1.3.1 Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable |
| 1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance | 1.4.1 Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services 1.4.2 Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and type of tenure |
| 1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters | 1.5.1 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population 1.5.2 Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) 1.5.3 Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 1.5.4 Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies |
| 1.a Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions | 1.a.1 Total official development assistance grants from all donors that focus on poverty reduction as a share of the recipient country’s gross national income 1.a.2 Proportion of total government spending on essential services (education, health and social protection) |
| 1.b Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions | 1.b.1 Pro-poor public social spending |
Custodian agencies are in charge of measuring the progress of the indicators:
-For Indicator 1.1.1: World Bank (WB) and International Labor Organization (ILO)
-For Indicator 1.2.1: WB
-For Indicator 1.2.2: National Statistics Offices, WB, UNICEF and UNDP
-For Indicator 1.3.1: ILO and WB
-For Indicator 1.4.1: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
-For Indicator 1.4.2: WB and UN-HABITAT collectively
-For all four Indicators under Target 1.5: United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
-For Indicator 1.a.1: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
-For Indicator 1.a.2: UNESCO-UIS
-For Indicator 1.b.1: UNICEF and Save the Children
Link to other SDGs
The SDGs are interlinked as one’s growth can positively affect another and vice versa. Eradicating poverty can lead to zero hunger (SDG 2) as hunger and poverty are connected. SDG 1 particularly links to good health and well-being (SDG 3) as eradication of poverty will necessarily increase the standard of living. It increases the access to essential resources and opportunities, fostering economic growth, and promoting social stability. When poverty is reduced, individuals and communities gain access to better healthcare, education, and nutrition, leading to improved health outcomes, increased productivity, and a higher overall quality of life. 1) Improved Access to Basic Needs, a) Healthcare – Poverty often limits access to quality healthcare, leading to higher rates of illness and mortality. Eradicating poverty ensures individuals can afford necessary medical care, leading to better health and longer lifespans, b) Education – Poverty restricts access to education, limiting opportunities for personal and economic advancement. Poverty reduction programs often prioritize education, leading to increased literacy rates and skills development, c) Nutrition – Food insecurity is a major consequence of poverty. Eradicating poverty improves access to nutritious food, leading to better health, especially for children, and reducing the risk of malnutrition. 2) Economic Growth and Development, a) Increased productivity – When people are freed from the constraints of poverty, they can participate more fully in the economy, contributing their skills and labour to produce goods and services. This leads to economic growth and increases national income, b) Reduced inequality – Poverty reduction often involved policies that promote inclusive growth, ensuring that the benefits of economic progress are shared more broadly across society. This reduces income inequality and fosters social stability, c) Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Poverty alleviation can unlock entrepreneurial potential, as individuals with greater economic security are more likely to take risks and start businesses. This can lead to innovation and job creation. 3) Social Stability and Well-being, a) Reduced Crime and violence – Poverty is often linked to social unrest and crime. Eradicating poverty can lead to a more peaceful and stable society by reducing inequality and providing opportunities for a better life, b) Improved Social Cohesion – When poverty is reduced, social divisions tend to decrease, and communities become more cohesive. People are more likely to participate in civic life and support one another, c) Empowerment and agency – Poverty can disempower individuals and communities. Poverty eradication efforts often focus on empowering people to take control of their lives, participate in decision-making, and advocate for their rights, and 4) Sustainable Development, a) Environmental Sustainability – Poverty can exacerbate environmental problems, as people may be forced to exploit natural resources unsustainably to survive. Poverty reduction can lead to more sustainable practices and better environmental stewardship, and b) Breaking the cycle of poverty – eradicating poverty can break the cycles of deprivation, where poverty is passed down from one generation to the next. When children have access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, they are less likely t experience poverty themselves.
Organizations responsible for SDGs
Organizations dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty to aid in achieving SDG 1 include:
-Oxfam International
-The Organization for Poverty Alleviation and Development (OPAD)
-End Poverty Now
-The Global Citizen
-The Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication
-Concern Worldwide
-World Relief
-ONE Campaign
-Care International
-Institute for Research on Poverty
-World Vision
India’s response to reducing poverty
In one of the most remarkable achievements of the past decade, India has lifted 171 million people out of extreme poverty. The World Bank acknowledges India’s decisive fight against poverty in its Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief. According to the report, the proportion of people living on less than 2.15 US dollars a day, which is the international benchmark for extreme poverty, fell sharply from 16.2 percent in 2011-12 to just 2.3 percent in 2022-23.
This achievement is a testament to the Government of India’s commitment to inclusive development, focusing on both rural and urban areas. Through targeted welfare schemes, economic reforms, and increased access to essential services, India has made substantial strides in reducing poverty levels. The World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief highlights how these efforts have significantly impacted the lives of millions, narrowing the poverty gap across the country.
The Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs) from the World Bank highlight trends in poverty, shared prosperity, and inequality for over 100 developing countries. Published twice a year for the Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, these briefs offer a snapshot of a country’s poverty and inequality context, ensuring poverty reduction remains a global priority. Each PEB includes a two-page summary that presents recent developments in poverty reduction, along with updated data on key development indicators.
These indicators cover various aspects of poverty, including rates of poverty and the total number of poor, using both national poverty lines and international benchmarks ($2.15 for extreme poverty, $3.65 for lower-middle-income, and $6.85 for upper-middle-income). The briefs also include comparative trends in poverty and inequality over time and across countries, a multidimensional poverty measure that accounts for non-monetary deprivations like education and basic services, and inequality measurements using the Gini Index. The World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief for India finds that the sharp reduction in extreme poverty has been broad-based, covering both rural and urban areas. In Rural areas, extreme poverty fell from 18.4 percent in 2011-12 to 2.8 percent in 2022-23. In Urban centres, extreme poverty reduced from 10.7 percent to 1.1 percent over the same period. The gap between rural and urban poverty shrunk from 7.7 percentage points to 1.7 percentage points, with an annual decline rate of 16 percent between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
The World Bank finds that India has made strong gains in reducing poverty at the lower-middle-income level, measured at 3.65 US dollars per day. Millions have benefited from this broad-based growth across both rural and urban areas.
India’s poverty rate at the 3.65 dollars per day line fell from 61.8 percent in 2011-12 to 28.1 percent in 2022-23, lifting 378 million people out of poverty. Rural poverty declined from 69 percent to 32.5 percent, while urban poverty dropped from 43.5 percent to 17.2 percent. The rural-urban poverty gap narrowed from 25 to 15 percentage points, with a 7 percent annual decline between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
The report notes that significant progress has been made in reducing extreme poverty across India, with key states playing a vital role in both the decline of poverty and the advancement of inclusive development. The five most populous states i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, represented 65 percent of India’s extreme poor in 2011-12. By 2022-23, these states contributed to two-thirds of the overall decline in extreme poverty.
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) highlights how much poverty exists, while SDG 1 indicators reflect on how many live in poverty. As per World Bank’s report, India has made significant strides in reducing non-monetary poverty, and future poverty estimates are expected to change based on updated global standards. Non-monetary poverty, as measured by the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which considers factors like education, health, and living conditions, declined from 53.8 percent in 2005-06 to 16.4 percent by 2019-21. The World Bank’s Multidimensional Poverty Measure stood at 15.5 percent in 2022-23, reflecting ongoing improvements in living conditions. With revised international poverty lines (the minimum income needed to meet basic needs) and the adoption of 2021 Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) (which adjust for differences in living costs between countries), the new poverty rates for 2022-23 are expected to be 5.3 percent for extreme poverty and 23.9 percent for lower-middle-income poverty. India’s consumption-based Gini index improved from 28.8 in 2011-12 to 25.5 in 2022-23, indicating a reduction in income inequality.
India has witnessed positive trends in employment growth, particularly since 2021-22, with significant improvements in both rural and urban areas, as highlighted in the World Bank’s report. Employment growth has outpaced the working-age population since 2021-22, with rising employment rates, especially among women. Urban unemployment fell to 6.6 percent in Q1 FY24/25, the lowest since 2017-18. Recent data indicates a shift of male workers from rural to urban areas for the first time since 2018-19, while rural female employment in agriculture has grown. Self-employment has risen, particularly among rural workers and women, contributing to economic participation.
Naman Jain 