Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Poverty in East Africa - Statistics & Facts
Nine East African countries were among the countries most dependent on agriculture in Africa, with agriculture contributing over a fifth of their GDP. The region is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, which severely impacts livelihoods, and in turn worsens poverty. The prevalence of extreme poverty in Africa in general is a major obstacle to the continent's overall development. In 2025, East African countries accounted for almost a quarter of the world population in extreme poverty, with the poverty threshold set at 2.15 U.S. dollars a day. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated the problem, pushing an additional 84 million people into extreme poverty in Africa between 2020 and 2022. These setbacks underscore the fragility of economic progress on the continent and the need for sustained efforts to combat poverty, particularly in rural areas.
