Extreme Poverty in Afghanistan: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

To look at the data of human existence is to observe the quiet rhythm of survival across centuries. Behind the percentages of extreme poverty lie individual experiences defined by the struggle to secure the international extreme poverty line of $2.15/day. These figures represent the baseline of subsistence for millions of people, marking the boundary between acute scarcity and the possibility of basic security. At MYRIAD, we translate these historical records into a measurable narrative of human progress, recognizing that every decimal point reflects the actual reality of lives lived.

The historical trajectory of Afghanistan reveals a long, slow shift in economic conditions. Throughout the 1800s estimate, poverty remained constant at 80 %. The 1900s estimate maintained this level at 80 %, before a gradual decline began in the 1910s estimate of 78 %. This downward trend continued through the decades, reaching 47.5 in the 1990s and 25 in the 2010s. In the 2020s, extreme poverty in Afghanistan stands at 10 % — ranking #112 of 157 countries. Projections suggest this decline will continue, reaching 1 in the 2100s projection.

If you were born in a previous century, the likelihood of living below the international extreme poverty line was nearly universal. A child born in the 1850s estimate would face an 80 % probability of extreme poverty, a stark contrast to the 2020s where the rate is 10 %. As the 2030s projection of 7.5 and the 2050s projection of 4.22 suggest, the statistical probability of surviving in extreme poverty continues to shift. These numbers offer a rare chance to compare your own circumstances to the lives of others across time.

Use our interactive tools to compute where you rank among everyone ever born.