According to the report, about 203 million people, or 5.2% of developing Asia's population, lived in extreme poverty — defined as living on less than 1.9 USD a day — as of 2017. Without COVID-19, that number would have declined to an estimated 2.6% in 2020. Assuming that the pandemic has increased inequality, the report warned further the relative rise in extreme poverty may be even greater.

Only about 25% of Asia- Pacific economies recorded growth in 2020.