Satellite data reveals 58% of world's poor misclassified in UN index

A new study using satellite imagery has identified significant errors in the UN's Human Development Index, finding that 58 percent of the global population has been assigned to the wrong poverty tier, according to Deutsche Welle.

The research reveals that current assessments fail to account for localized variations in wealth and development, leading to misallocation of international aid resources. Satellite-based analysis provides granular data on actual living conditions that traditional survey methods miss.

The findings have practical consequences for how development assistance is distributed globally and which populations receive priority support from international organizations.