Coral reefs are declining at an alarming rate, and this trend is intricately linked to the simultaneous increase in global poverty. As coral reefs degrade, the communities reliant on them for sustenance and livelihoods, often in developing coastal regions, suffer the consequences. These communities, already vulnerable, lose their main source of income through fishing and tourism, exacerbating poverty. Furthermore, the loss of natural barriers provided by healthy reefs leaves coastal areas exposed to the destructive forces of storms and sea-level rise, causing additional economic hardships for impoverished communities. Thus, the degradation of coral reefs and the increase in global poverty form a distressing feedback loop, underscoring the urgent need for action and sustainable development initiatives to break this detrimental cycle.