Nepal: In Nepal, about 20.27 percent of the population is below the poverty line. According to the Poverty Micro-Sector Estimates- report released by the National Statistical Office, 18.34 percent of the population in urban areas and 24.66 percent in rural areas are below the poverty line.
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This time, a new poverty line of Rs 72,908 per capita per year has been determined for poverty measurement. Earlier, in 2066/67 BS, the poverty line was determined at Rs 19,261.
According to the new poverty line, people who spend less than Rs 72,908 per capita per year are classified as poor. Provincially, the highest poverty rate is in Sudurpaschim Province at 34.16 percent, while the lowest is in Gandaki Province at 11.88 percent.
The report shows that the poverty rate is 17.19 percent in Koshi Province, 22.53 percent in Madhesh Province, 12.59 percent in Bagmati Province, 24.34 percent in Lumbini Province, and 26.69 percent in Karnali Province.
According to the report, when analyzing the local level, the poverty rate of 309 local levels is lower than the national average of 20.27 percent, while the poverty rate of 444 local levels is higher than the national average.
The poverty rate at the local level ranges from a minimum of 1.18 percent to a maximum of 77.89 percent.
At the municipal level, the highest poverty rate is in Junichande Rural Municipality of Jajarkot at 77.89 percent, while the lowest, i.e. 1.18 percent, is in Gharpajhong Rural Municipality of Mustang. The population below the poverty line is numerically highest in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (59,218). The poverty rate in Kathmandu Metropolitan City is 6.87 percent.
When analyzing at the district level, the highest poverty rate is in Achham district of Sudurpaschim Province at 49.58 percent and the lowest is in Kaski district of Gandaki Province at 5.63 percent.
District-wise, the report states that the poverty rate of 34 districts is less than the national average and the poverty rate of 43 districts is more than the national average.
According to the report, Achham ranks first among the 10 districts with the highest poverty rate. Achham has 49.58 percent or 112,902 poor people. According to the report, Achham has a population of 227,719.
Among the ten local levels with the highest poverty rate, Dhakari Rural Municipality is in third place, while Kamalbazar Municipality is in fifth place. Junichande Rural Municipality of Jajarkot in Karnali Province is in first place. Junichande has a poverty rate of 77.89 percent. In Dhakari Rural Municipality of Achham, 70.57 percent or 15,525 population and in Kamalbazar Municipality, 66.8 percent or 14,049 population are below the poverty line.
In the urban areas of Sudurpaschim Province, poverty is 30.86 percent and in the rural areas, 40.21 percent. The report presents data based on poverty rate, poverty inequality, poverty intensity and number of poor indicators. The poverty rate measures the share of the population below the poverty line. The poverty inequality indicator measures how far the population below the poverty line is on average from the poverty line and poverty intensity measures inequality among the poor.
In Achham, poverty inequality is 11.83 and intensity is 3.88 percent. In the urban areas of Sudurpaschim Province, poverty inequality is 7.67, intensity is 2.57 and poverty spread is 8.20 percent. Similarly, the report states that the poverty disparity in rural areas is 9.77, the intensity is 3.42, and the spread is 5.82 percent.
The monetary poverty line in Nepal is being measured using the basic cost method. The latest poverty line for Nepal was set at 72,908. It was 19,361 in 2066/67.
According to the poverty line, people who spend less than 72,908 per capita per year are classified as poor. According to the new line, about 20.27 percent of the population in Nepal is below the poverty line. 18.34 percent in urban areas and 24.66 percent in rural areas are below the poverty line. Provincially, the highest poverty rate is in Sudurpaschim Province and the lowest in Gandaki Province.
According to the data, Darchula has a poverty rate of 30.34, Dadeldhura 33.26, Kailali 28.23, and Kanchanpur 24.52 percent. Poverty alleviation is a major social issue in Nepal and a priority for all three levels of government.
