Kathmandu, Nov. 2 -- Nepal has made substantial progress in reducing poverty over the past three decades. In 1995, nearly three in four Nepalis lived on less than $3 a day, measured by per capita consumption. By 2022, that share had fallen to just 2.4 percent, according to the World Bank's Nepal Poverty and Equity Brief, released in October 2026. The figures measure extreme poverty, using the World Bank's international poverty line of $3 per person per day. But escaping extreme poverty does not necessarily mean achieving economic security.

Poverty can also be measured using higher daily consumption levels. The World Bank sets the poverty line at $4.20 a day for lower-middle-income countries, and $8.30 a day for upper-middle-income countr...