A study has shown that 20.27 percent of Nepal’s total population is still below the poverty line. According to the Micro-Sectoral Estimates of Poverty-2023 report, 18.34 percent of the population in urban areas and 24.66 percent in rural areas are below the poverty line.
According to data released by the National Statistics Office on Friday, the highest poverty rate in the Sudurpachhim province and the lowest in the Gandaki Province. The National Statistics Office has been conducting the Nepal Living Standards Survey since 2052 BS, following the Living Standards Measurement Study Methodology developed by the World Bank to measure the living standards and monetary poverty of the Nepali people.
This time, a new poverty line of Rs 72,908 per capita per year has been set for measuring poverty. According to the new poverty line, people who spend less than Rs 72,908 per person per year are classified as poor. Previously, in 2066/67, the poverty line was set at Rs. 19,261. 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. The government’s Sixteenth Plan, with a long-term vision, aims to end absolute poverty and limit multidimensional poverty to 3 percent by 2100. The target is to reduce the population below the poverty line from 20.3 percent to 12 percent by the fiscal year 2085/86. For the first time, the National Statistics Office has calculated poverty rates by municipality. At the municipal level, the highest poverty rate is in Junichande Rural Municipality of Jajarkot at 77.89 percent, while the lowest, at 1.18 percent, is in Gharpajhong Rural Municipality of Mustang.
The population below the poverty line is numerically highest in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, at 59,218. However, the poverty rate in Kathmandu Metropolitan City is 6.87 percent.
