poorest

Poorest is a superlative adjective used to describe the individuals or groups with the lowest income, wealth, or standard of living within a defined population. In economics and social science, the term identifies the bottom end of the distribution of resources or well-being.

Poverty is measured in absolute and relative terms. Absolute poverty uses a fixed income or consumption threshold; historically the World Bank's extreme poverty line was about $1.90 per day in 2011 PPP, later updated to around $2.15 per day in current PPP terms. Relative poverty defines deprivation in relation to the prevailing standard of living, commonly set at 50% or 60% of median income. Multidimensional poverty indices assess deprivation across health, education, and living standards, not income alone.

The term is widely used in policy to describe groups targeted by social protection, cash transfers, subsidies, and access to essential services. The composition of the poorest can change with economic growth, shocks, migration, and policy. Rural poor, urban poor, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are often overrepresented.

Globally, progress against extreme poverty has accelerated, but large numbers remain in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The concept of the poorest intersects with debates on inequality, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

Measurement faces challenges from data gaps, PPP adjustments, and the choice of multidimensional indicators. Critics argue that income thresholds may understate deprivation and that local cost of living and cultural factors should be considered.

See also: Poverty, Poverty line, Relative poverty, Multidimensional poverty index, Social protection.