People living below poverty line decreases

The number of people living below the poverty line has decreased according to the Botswana Multi-Topic Household Survey 2015/16 results released last week. The Reports states that the percentage of population living below Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) one Dollar a day ($ 1.90) has decreased from 6.4 percent in 2009/10 to 5.8 percent in 2015/16 at national level.

The Dollar ($) a day poverty line is a measure of extreme poverty through the adjustment of the local currency, using the (PPP) exchange rate. Purchasing Power Parities are computed based on the results of the World Bank’s International Comparison Program (ICP). The World Bank dollar a day poverty line was adjusted to $1.90 on the basis of the 2011 ICP, upgraded from $1.25 in 2005. Botswana’s PPP exchange rate was estimated at 3.764 in 2011, up from 2.42 in 2005.