At the other end of the spectrum, the transition economies (from Socialism to Capitalism) of Eastern European nations and those of the former Soviet Union nations are also being afflicted by poverty partly caused by a major change in the state. On the whole, poverty is generally lower in Eastern European countries than in those of the former Soviet Union.

Europe is a wealthy continent. As of 1992, the 340 million people of Europe were among the 20% of the world’s population who share 80% of the world’s wealth. Unless governments pay more attention to the plight of the poor within Europe, more and more people walking on the streets will find themselves being confronted by an increasing number of individuals reaching out their hands in despair.

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• Note: Poverty lines vary from country to country. What certain poverty line may mean to a nation may perhaps be the middle class of the other.