According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, 30.5% of the population experiences acute multidimensional poverty, with a national MPI of 0.136. This indicates that nearly one-third of Rwandans face significant deprivations in various aspects of life. The country's population stands at nearly 15 million people. The MPI is a measure of poverty that considers multiple indicators, including health, education, and living standards.
A breakdown of poverty prevalence in Rwanda shows that the Southern province has the highest number of people engulfed in poverty, with a 35.2% prevalence rate. The Eastern Province follows closely with 34.4%. In contrast, Rwanda's capital, Kigali, has the lowest poverty incidence at 12.4%. This disparity highlights regional inequalities in poverty levels across the country.
The Poverty Intensity in Rwanda stands at 44.6%, which is the average share of weighted indicators in which poor people are deprived. The main areas of deprivation include cooking fuel (29.2%), housing materials (28.1%), and drinking water (17.4%). Health insurance and sanitation also contribute to poverty, with 15.1% and 4.1% deprivation rates, respectively. School attendance has the lowest deprivation rate at 2.5%.
For comparison, Kenya's multidimensional poverty rate stands at 25.4%, equivalent to approximately 13.75 million people, based on 2022 household survey data. Additionally, 26.4% of Kenya's population, or around 14.33 million people, are vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. About 7.5% of Kenyans live in severe multidimensional poverty, experiencing deprivation in at least half of the weighted indicators.
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index also reveals that Rwanda's poverty situation is slightly better than the Sub-Saharan African average. However, the country still faces significant challenges in reducing poverty and improving living standards. The government and development partners are working to address these issues through various initiatives and programs.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) plays a crucial role in monitoring and reporting poverty levels in the country. The institute's data and analysis inform policy decisions and help track progress toward poverty reduction goals. By understanding the dimensions of poverty, policymakers can design targeted interventions to address specific areas of deprivation.
Efforts to reduce poverty in Rwanda focus on improving access to education, healthcare, and basic services like clean water and sanitation. The government and development partners are also working to promote economic growth and create job opportunities. By addressing the root causes of poverty, Rwanda aims to reduce the number of people experiencing multidimensional poverty and improve overall well-being.
Key points
- 30.5% of Rwanda's population experiences acute multidimensional poverty.
- The Southern province has the highest poverty prevalence at 35.2%.
- Cooking fuel is the highest area of deprivation at 29.2%.
