According to the latest World Bank data (June 8, 2025), India has made remarkable progress in reducing extreme poverty. Between 2011–12 and 2022–23, the number of Indians living below the global poverty line fell dramatically from 344.5 million (27.1%) to 75.2 million (5.3%).

This shift resulted in approximately 270 million people escaping conditions of extreme poverty, a milestone achieved even after the poverty threshold was revised upward.

Key Highlights:

• India’s poverty rate declined from 27.1% in 2011–12 to 5.3% in 2022–23, based on the World Bank’s updated $3/day (2021 PPP) benchmark.
• The absolute number of individuals in extreme poverty dropped from around 344.5 million to 75.2 million in this decade.
• Despite raising the poverty threshold, the World Bank acknowledged that India bucked the global trend—where higher thresholds normally inflate poor count—demonstrating strong economic resilience.
• States such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh accounted for nearly two-thirds of the decline in extreme poverty.
• Rural poverty fell from 18.4% to 2.8%, while urban poverty decreased from 10.7% to 1.1% during this period.
• The reduction is attributed to improved survey methodologies (like MMRP), higher household consumption, and policy measures including DBT, food security schemes, and welfare programs.