Multidimensional Poverty in Mozambique: Key Findings from the 2023 Global MPI Report
- Fundação RESET
- Mar 12
- 2 min read
The 2023 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report provides an updated assessment of poverty across developing countries, highlighting Mozambique’s struggle with severe multidimensional poverty. The report measures poverty beyond income, incorporating deprivations in health, education, and living standards. Despite global efforts to reduce poverty, Mozambique remains among the countries with the highest levels of multidimensional poverty, revealing persistent socio-economic challenges.
Key Findings
Mozambique’s MPI value stands at 0.372, with 61.9% of the population (approximately 19.9 million people) classified as multidimensionally poor. Additionally, 13.9% are vulnerable to multidimensional poverty, while 43% experience severe poverty. The intensity of deprivations among the poor reaches 60%, indicating deep-rooted socio-economic challenges. Compared to regional averages, Mozambique exhibits higher levels of multidimensional poverty than neighboring countries like Côte d’Ivoire (0.236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.331).
The breakdown of deprivations reveals that standard of living accounts for 46.4% of overall poverty, followed by health (27.3%) and education (26.3%). Limited access to adequate sanitation, clean drinking water, electricity, and proper housing are key drivers of poverty. Furthermore, significant disparities exist between rural and urban areas, with the vast majority of multidimensionally poor individuals living in rural regions, where infrastructure and basic services remain inadequate.
Comparing multidimensional and monetary poverty measures, Mozambique’s multidimensional poverty rate is only 2.7 percentage points lower than the income-based poverty rate (living below $2.15 per day). This suggests that income-based assessments may underestimate the true extent of poverty, as many households classified as non-poor by income standards still face significant deprivations in essential services such as education, healthcare, and nutrition.
Mozambique continues to face significant poverty challenges, with a high percentage of its population experiencing multiple deprivations. The findings emphasize the need for targeted policies addressing health, education, and infrastructure development to break the cycle of poverty. Improving access to quality education, expanding healthcare services, and investing in sustainable infrastructure will be crucial in reducing multidimensional poverty and promoting long-term economic development
The Bibliography source:
RESET Foundation is committed with the The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These insights underscore the urgency of comprehensive poverty alleviation strategies to ensure Mozambique’s sustainable development. The UNDP methodology and study is linked to several SDGs:
The SDG'sG's, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
