About 10 percent of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty. But how do we actually know that? Measuring poverty is complex: it requires clear definitions, reliable data, and methods that capture different realities of life. Fundamental concepts and approaches to measuring poverty are explained: How has poverty evolved worldwide? Where do most poor people live today? And what challenges do they face? Ultimately, the question is what role reliable knowledge plays in poverty reduction within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Kenneth Harttgen
Senior Scientist, Development Economics Group, ETH Zurich