Subsistencebased

Subsistence-based, or subsistence-based livelihoods, refers to economic and social arrangements in which most production is dedicated to meeting the basic needs of the producer and their household rather than generating surplus for sale. It is characteristic of many rural and indigenous communities where farming, pastoralism, fishing, hunting and gathering, and household crafts are organized to secure food, shelter, and clothing.

Key features include heavy reliance on local natural resources, limited cash income, and vulnerability to weather, pests, and market fluctuations. Households typically blend multiple activities—such as cultivation and seasonal wage labor—yet the primary aim remains self-sufficiency rather than profit. Traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and long-standing social networks often underpin these systems.

Economics and development: Subsistence-based economies can provide food security and cultural continuity, but they may limit access to credit, technology, and formal education, and can constrain broader economic participation. Interactions with market economies through cash crops or wage labor can offer diversification, but exposure to price volatility and land pressures may increase risk.

Measurement and context: Analysts assess subsistence reliance by indicators such as the share of calories or income produced for own consumption, the degree of market exchange, land and livestock ownership, and the prevalence of household-level decision making centered on subsistence needs. Subsystems occur worldwide, notably in parts of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Arctic regions, including many indigenous communities.

See also: subsistence agriculture, subsistence farming, subsistence economy, food sovereignty.