Overall, we are seeing levels of prosperity increasing globally. World gross domestic product (GDP) has risen over one-third in the last 25 years. And, we have made significant progress in reducing poverty over the last three decades, with close to a billion people lifted out of extreme poverty.
As of 2011, the most recent estimates, 17% of people in the developing world were living on $1.25 a day or less. That is down from 43% in 1990 and 52% in 1981.