More than 173 million people in 120 countries attended weekend meetings to press governments to do more to end poverty, in what the United Nations has called the biggest mobilisation in history.

The response to the UN campaign 'Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!' reached 173 045 325 people, more than last year's event, and set a new Guinness world record, the international body said on Wednesday.

The crowds converged at some 3000 simultaneous musical, theatrical and sports events around the globe, in a UN reminder that, one year after the world financial crisis erupted, the UN's poverty reduction goals have been thrust into doubt.

One of the Millennium Development Goals set by world leaders at a 2000 summit was to end global poverty by 2015.

The mass mobilisation last weekend, UN Millennium Campaign director Salil Shetty said, "sent a clear message to world leaders that there is a massive, universal, global demand for eradicating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals".