Poverty reduction in the Asia and the Pacific region in 2005-2008 had been quite significant. Despite the global crisis …, an estimated 150 million people exited extreme poverty by 2008 - from 903.4 million in 2005 to 753.5 million, bringing … the $2 per day poverty line, 47.4% of the region's total population or 1.63 billion can be classified as poor in 2008 …