Overview #
Poverty is the condition in which individuals or communities lack the financial resources and access to basic needs such as food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, and education. It is one of the most persistent global challenges, affecting more than 700 million people worldwide. Poverty is not only about income — it is multidimensional, shaped by structural inequalities, historical injustices, and systemic barriers that limit opportunities.
Types of Poverty #
- Absolute Poverty: A condition where people cannot meet the minimum standards of living, often measured against the international poverty line (currently $2.15/day, World Bank).
- Relative Poverty: Defined in relation to societal standards; for example, living below 50% of median income in a given country.
- Multidimensional Poverty: Considers education, health, housing, and other non-monetary indicators alongside income.
Causes #
- Economic Structures: Unemployment, underemployment, and informal economies.
- Systemic Inequality: Discrimination based on gender, race, class, or disability.
- Globalization: Unequal trade, exploitation of labor, and debt burdens.
- Conflict & Displacement: Wars and forced migration.
- Climate Change: Droughts, floods, and crop failures disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
Impacts #
- Health: Higher rates of malnutrition, disease, and preventable deaths.
- Education: Barriers to school enrollment and achievement.
- Social Exclusion: Reduced political participation and weakened community cohesion.
- Intergenerational Cycles: Poverty perpetuates across generations.
Solutions #
- Social Protection: Cash transfers, universal basic income, welfare programs.
- Access to Education & Healthcare: Key drivers of upward mobility.
- Economic Justice: Fair wages, decent work, and labor rights.
- Community-Led Development: Empowering local solutions and decision-making.
- Global Action: Sustainable Development Goal 1 calls to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere.”
Related Issues #
- Wealth Inequality
- Housing Crisis
- Health & Wellbeing
- Climate Change
