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The purpose of this indicator is to measure the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty to assess progress towards achieving SDG Target 1.2, ‘By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.’ This indicator provides essential data on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which encompasses various deprivations that characterize the experience of poverty in Belize. Understanding these dimensions is critical for a holistic view of poverty. By monitoring this indicator, policymakers, stakeholders, and organizations can make informed decisions to promote sustainable development and address poverty-related challenges. The MPI provides valuable information that can be used to identify vulnerable populations, direct policy initiatives, allocate resources, and evaluate the effectiveness of policies and programs aimed at alleviating poverty over time, thereby contributing to the overall objective of sustainable, inclusive, and equitable growth.

This indicator measures the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all it dimensions according to national definitions to monitor progress towards SDG 1.2, ‘By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.’ The relevance of this indicator lies in its ability to provide critical data on various deprivations that characterize the experience of poverty in Belize, which is essential for understanding poverty holistically. The data for this indicator is collected through household surveys and it is calculated by measuring the incidence of poverty, which is the percent of people and households who are multidimensionally poor, and the intensity of poverty, which is the average deprivation score of multidimensionally poor households; the product of these two measures results in the MPI. By tracking this indicator, stakeholders can gain valuable insights into various deprivation profiles of poverty, enabling them to make informed decisions to promote sustainable development and address poverty related challenges.

Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB)

Annually (Every September LFS Round)

Percentage (%)

Scope: The data represents a national scope achieved through household surveys. This data is available for the years 2021 and 2023.

Definition: The MPI encompasses various deprivations that characterize the experience of poverty in Belize, such as lack of education or employment, and is complementary to monetary measures of poverty.

N/A

Urban/Rural.

The calculation of this indicator involves collecting data through the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The MPI uses the Alkire-Foster (AF) method, which quantifies the various deprivations that individuals suffer concurrently, such as lack of education or employment, poor health, or poor living conditions. These deprivation profiles are examined to determine who is poor and then used to produce an MPI.

It also measures the incidence of poverty, which is the percent of people and households who are multidimensionally poor, and the intensity of poverty, which is the average deprivation score of multidimensionally poor households. The product of these two measures results in the Multidimensional Poverty Index.

The national MPI is divided into four equally weighted dimensions: education, living standards, employment, and health. Each dimension has four to five indicators for a total of seventeen indicators. Each indicator is equally weighted within its respective dimension.

Policy Development: Use the data to inform and shape policies related to poverty reduction.

Monitoring and Evaluation: to track progress towards SDG target 1.2, ‘By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.’

Reporting and Accountability: to report progress to stakeholders, including government and international organizations, to ensure accountability and transparency in achieving SDG Target 1.2.

All the metadata shown in this document was gathered from United Nation Statistics Division. The metadata was extracted from https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/.