UN: 426 million women and girls will live in extreme poverty in 2026

UN Women has announced in a report marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty that an estimated 426 million women and girls worldwide will be living in extreme poverty in 2026. Releasing the report on Saturday, October 17, the agency called for greater investment to strengthen social protection systems and expand health and education services for women and girls. UN Women stressed that these measures are essential to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of women globally.

The report also highlights the situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, women and girls have faced extensive restrictions on education, employment, and social participation. According to international organizations, excluding women from the workforce not only increases poverty and family vulnerability but also poses a serious obstacle to Afghanistan’s economic growth.