Hey there, little buddy! Guess what? The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) just came out with a super interesting report called the 2019 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). It’s all about how many people in the world are living in poverty. But this report looks at poverty in a special way called “multidimensional poverty.” Woah, big words!

So, what does this “multidimensional poverty” mean? Well, it’s not just about not having money. It’s also about lacking other important things like clean water, electricity, and good health. Imagine not having clean water to drink or being in the dark without electricity. Yikes!

Multidimensional Poverty: A Global Challenge

• The UNDP checked out poverty at different levels: globally, in countries, and even in smaller areas. They found that a whopping 1.3 billion people across 101 countries are multidimensionally poor. Can you believe that? That’s like a gazillion people!
• You know what’s even crazier? Most of these people live in just ten countries. Let’s count them together: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam. Phew, that’s a long list! Can you imagine how many people there are in those countries who need some help?
• Oh, and here’s a really surprising fact: half of all the people living in multidimensional poverty are actually kids under 18 years old. That’s like you and your friends, isn’t it? It’s really sad to think about so many children not having what they need to live a good life.
• Let’s focus on India for a minute. In 2005-2006, there were over 640 million people in India who were multidimensionally poor. That’s a HUGE number! But here’s some good news: by 2016-17, they managed to reduce that number by 271 million. That means a lot of people got help and their lives improved. Way to go, India!
• Now, let’s talk about Bangladesh. They’ve been working hard too! Between 2004 and 2014, they managed to reduce poverty by 19 million people. That’s a lot of progress!
• Pedro Conceicao, who works at the UNDP, said he’s really proud of the countries that have been helping their citizens escape poverty. But he also mentioned that governments need to keep doing more to make the world a fairer place for everyone. We all need to pitch in and help!
• So, my little friend, the UNDP’s report shows us that there are still too many people in the world living in multidimensional poverty. We need to remember that poverty is not just about not having money, but also about lacking things like clean water, electricity, good health, education, and more.
• It’s up to all of us, including governments, to work together and make the world a better place for everyone. Let’s spread some kindness and help those in need!