The UN estimates roughly 300 million humans were alive one thousand years ago. That’s a 2600% growth in a millennium. Of those 300 million humans, every single one of them was poor by today’s standards. Even the wealthiest lack antibiotics, shower gel, antiperspirants, the internet, and convenient travel. Almost nobody had indoor plumbing or clean, well-made clothes every day. However, in absolute terms, more people are living in poverty; over a billion. Concerning if you worry about the total number of impoverished humans. However, the proportion has dropped from 100% to just over 15% and continues to decline. Not just because the population is growing: but also because more people are lifted out of deprivation every day, predominately due to the power of free markets, free trade, and technological/medical innovation.