Data Review of the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

Description

This data review provides an overview of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), a tool developed by Sabina Alkire and Maria Emma Santos and launched in the 2010 Human Development Report to measure acute poverty through non-monetary deprivations in health, education, and living standards. The MPI, calculated using the Alkire-Foster method, captures both the incidence and intensity of poverty and is widely used for policy and monitoring purposes. It is based on ten weighted indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the index's broad coverage and conceptual clarity are strengths, it faces critiques regarding its dual cutoff method, equal weighting of dimensions, and the exclusion of some indicators. This review also highlights the availability of MPI data for countries relevant to Discuss Data, and discusses current limitations in indicator coverage. The MPI remains a valuable instrument for comparative poverty analysis despite its conceptual and methodological challenges.

Countries

Armenia Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Moldova Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan

Keywords

Education Poverty Living Standard Social Indicators Undp Health Multidimensional Poverty Alkire-Foster Method Global Mpi National Mpi Sustainable Development Goals Sdgs Ophi

Language of data

English

Disciplines

Development Studies Economcis Political Science Social Policy Sociology

Methods of data collection

Household Survey Datasets Primarily From Dhs And Mics