Around seven in ten people in Sudan are now living in poverty, according to the United Nations Development Programme, nearly doubling from about 38% before the conflict began three years ago.
UNDP’s Sudan representative Luca Renda said the estimates are based on a poverty line of roughly $4 per day, with at least a quarter of the population surviving on less than half that amount. The findings coincide with the anniversary of the outbreak of the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Now in its fourth year, the conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million people, pushing parts of the country into hunger and famine. Donors are expected to convene in Berlin on Wednesday for an international conference aimed at reviving stalled peace efforts and mobilising aid.
The UNDP report highlights a “systematic erosion” of the country’s future, noting that nearly seven million people were driven into extreme poverty in 2023 alone, with average incomes falling to levels last seen in 1992. Extreme poverty rates have now surpassed those of the 1980s.
More than 21 million people are facing acute food insecurity, while two-thirds of the population urgently require humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, fighting continues to intensify in regions such as Kordofan and Blue Nile, with little indication of de-escalation.
