Poverty

Poverty is a global issue, and its manifestations vary across different regions. It is also a relative concept, experienced diversely across the world and over time. Nonetheless, it's important to recognize that in nearly every society, there exists a segment of the population living below the subsistence level. Identifying this group is crucial, and various methodologies are employed for this purpose. One commonly used approach is the poverty line, where individuals and households earning below this threshold are deemed poor.

Poverty encompasses various dimensions of life. To capture this multidimensionality, the Central Bureau of Statistics Curaçao (CBS) utilizes a methodology known as the "Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)." In calculating the MPI, CBS considers several dimensions: health, education, social security, and standard of living.

CBS provides information on two types of poverty lines: the subjective poverty line and the objective poverty line. The subjective poverty line is based on findings from the Budget Survey conducted by CBS in 2016. From the data obtained in this survey, a subjective poverty line (SPL) was derived. This SPL differs from the 2008 Objective Poverty Line, which was based on expert opinions and assumptions, as it reflects respondents' own perceptions of their wealth level.