Poverty is defined as lacking the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Over 736 million people live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 per day. Poverty is both a lack of income and access to necessities like healthcare, education, clean water and shelter. It often persists across generations as impoverished families cannot afford education or their children must work instead of attending school. Ending poverty requires addressing its underlying causes like lack of infrastructure, education, economic opportunity and natural disasters. Alleviating poverty sustainably may involve improving access to resources and making lives self-sufficient.