'Multidimensional poverty' a worry despite progressListen to this articleWhile Thailand has managed to cut the number of people living in poverty by half in just seven years, many Thais still live with substandard living conditions-- lacking access to adequate healthcare, education, and sanitation -- especially those living in rural areas, according to the 2024 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). According to the 2024 MPI, which examines 112 countries worldwide, about 1.1 billion out of 6.3 billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty. The report said the progress was made possible by the government's push to improve access to basic housing, nutrition, and education. However, the rate of multidimensional poverty in Thailand is approximately 0.5% higher than the rate of monetary poverty, according to the 2024 MPI. Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said Narathiwat, Surin, Mae Hong Son, Uthai Thani and Pattani reported the highest rates of multidimensional poverty in the country last year.
