The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people or eight per cent of the world’s population – according to new research.

The authors of a United Nations University study found that a setback of that size could reverse a decade of global progress on poverty reduction.

“Extreme poverty in Australia's immediate region is likely to skyrocket,” said co-author Mr Christopher Hoy, from The Australian National University (ANU). 

“In other regions such as the Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, the adverse impacts of COVID-19 could result in poverty levels similar to those recorded 30 years ago.”  

It is the first time that poverty has increased globally in 30 years, according to the report published in UNU-WIDER.

“The economic crisis is potentially going to be even more severe than the health crisis,” said Mr Hoy.

“COVID-19 will push tens of millions of people back into extreme poverty and they will not be able to meet their basic needs.” 

It is hoped the report’s findings will propel action ahead of key meetings with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and G20 Finance Ministers next week.

“There is little that anyone can do to stop the world going into a recession, but this report shows just how severe the crisis could be if urgent action is not taken by policy makers,” said Mr Hoy.

The paper estimates a 400–600 million increase in people in poverty across the globe given a scenario in which per capita consumption in developing countries contracts by 20 per cent. 

The report also says the potential impact of COVID-19 poses a real challenge to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty by 2030.

One of the authors, Professor Andy Sumner, of King’s College London, said: “We were surprised at the sheer scale of the potential poverty tsunami that could follow COVID-19 in developing countries.”

“Our findings point towards the importance of a dramatic expansion of social safety nets in developing countries as soon as possible and - more broadly - much greater attention to the impact of COVID in developing countries and what the international community can do to help.”