Synonym Discussion of poverty. The United Nations observes that, worldwide, “frequently, poverty is defined in either relative or absolute terms. The UN definition of overall poverty includes ill-health, lack of access to education and other basic services, inadequate housing, unsafe environments, social discrimination and exclusion. At summit meetings and other occasions, world leaders have stated and reconfirmed their agreement that poverty must be reduced and eventually eradicated. Poverty definition is - the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. That is equivalent to 689 million people living on less than $1.90 a day. From the link below, poverty is defined "as the total absence of opportunities, accompanied by high levels of undernourishment, hunger, illiteracy, lack of education, physical and mental ailments, emotional and social instability, unhappiness, sorrow and hopelessness for the future. For historical information, see the History of the Poverty Measure page in the About section of the Poverty … conflict, the poverty of low-wage workers, and the utter destitution of people who fall outside family support systems, social institutions and safety nets. At the heart of every human experience is the desire to survive and prosper. There are many ways of measuring and categorizing poverty — and no simple, unified definition. At higher poverty lines, 24.1 percent of the world lived on less than $3.20 a day and 43.6 percent on less than $5.50 a day in 2017. poverty measures on expenditure data rather than income. (UN, 1995) Learn more about types and causes of poverty in this article. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). How to use poverty in a sentence. To imagine how your life could be better and then have the means to change it. Poverty, the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. To live without fear, hunger or suffering. Therefore, expanding the definition of child poverty beyond traditional conceptualizations, such as low household income or low levels of consumption, is particularly important. Children experience poverty as an environment that is damaging to their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual development. Poverty is said to exist when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs. As noted above, one purpose 4 The United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015 reflect the diversity of objectives through a broad list of primary and secondary goals focusing on deprivations, such as low levels of child and maternal health, education , and basic nutrition. The population below poverty line is unable to meet minimum human needs. 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