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Canada: 11.6% of the population in poverty
Canada may be an affluent, resource-rich country, but the North American nation has a relatively high rate of poverty compared to other advanced economies. This isn't helped by Canada's low social assistance rates. On the plus side, however, the country's poverty rate has fallen dramatically over the last decade. Back in 2008, Canada reportedly had one of the highest poverty rates of any OECD member country; by 2019, the poverty rate had fallen to its lowest level in history.
United Kingdom: 12.4% of the population in poverty
According to OECD data, the poverty rate in the UK is 12.4%. The rate is even higher according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which measures poverty based on the relative poverty rate after housing costs. By this measurement, more than one in five UK citizens currently lives in poverty, the equivalent of around 14.5 million people.
New Zealand: 12.4% of the population in poverty
Like the UK, wealthy New Zealand has a poverty rate of 12.4%. The Borgen Project reports that economic reform in the 1980s has resulted in a more unequal society, with some people much better off than others. Those most at risk of poverty are the Māori people and children of all ethnicities, although the nation has pledged to cut the number of impoverished children by 50% by 2030.
Australia: 12.4% of the population in poverty
The poverty rate in Australia is also 12.4%, according to the OECD. In early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic caused global poverty rates to soar, a study by the Australian Council of Social Service found that 3.24 million people in the country were living below the poverty line of AU$457 ($318/£263) per week.
Italy: 14.2% of the population in poverty
With a poverty rate of 14.2%, Italy is currently home to around 1.7 million families and 4.6 million individuals who are living on less than €657 ($672/£556) a month. The country does have an extensive social security system, known as "previdenza sociale," but the poverty rate has still increased over the last few years.
Türkiye: 14.4% of the population in poverty
A cavernous gap between the urban rich and rural poor is evident in Türkiye (formerly known as Turkey). In many rural areas of the country, education is poor, jobs are hard to come by and social security is virtually nonexistent, fuelling the country's poverty rate of 14.4%.
Spain: 14.7% of the population in poverty
Like its neighbour Portugal, Spain is struggling with an exceptionally high rate of unemployment among its under-25s, which means that poverty in the country is concentrated among the younger generation. That said, its poverty rate has fallen slightly from over 15% to 14.7% in the last few years.
Estonia: 14.9% of the population in poverty
Poverty is a big problem in Estonia. An inadequate education system, lack of good jobs, and negligible state benefits for citizens who are unable to work have pushed a relatively large section of society into chronic poverty.
South Korea: 15.3% of the population in poverty
In contrast to many other countries, the poverty rate in South Korea is especially high among the over-65s at over 40%. This is explained in part by the country's meagre state pension, which has been estimated to cover just 16% of the minimum cost of living.
Lithuania: 15.4% of the population in poverty
Another Baltic country with high levels of poverty and low wages, Lithuania's poverty rate is currently 15.4%. Though wealth inequality and unemployment in the country are relatively low, rural poverty is shockingly prevalent. And according to the Borgen Project, around one-third of Lithuanians live in rural areas.
Japan: 15.7% of the population in poverty
At 15.7%, Japan's poverty rate is the seventh highest in our round-up. According to the Borgen Project, figures from 2018 showed that less than 1% of Japanese society was experiencing homelessness. However, low levels of homelessness are reportedly the result of high government spending rather than effective reform, and clearly don't translate to low levels of poverty.
Chile: 16.5% of the population in poverty
Chile may be one of the wealthiest countries in South America, but a significant proportion of its population lives below the breadline. Income inequality is high in the country and the public education system is poor, trapping many citizens in a cycle of poverty. Its poverty rate has increased from 16.1% to 16.5% in the last few years, according to the OECD.
Mexico: 16.6% of the population in poverty
OECD data from 2020 shows that the poverty rate in Mexico is 16.6%. The country particularly struggles with child poverty; shockingly, around 14% of children under the age of five have experienced stunted growth due to malnutrition, despite the fact that Mexico has one of the top 20 largest economies in the world.
Latvia: 16.9% of the population in poverty
The provisional poverty rate for Latvia is 16.9%, a slight increase from the previous OECD figures, which quoted 16.2% for the Baltic state. Like its neighbour Estonia, Latvia has deep-seated issues with poverty. The typical salary in the country is just over $17,000 (£13.8k), while the nation's welfare system is severely lacking.
Israel: 17.3% of the population in poverty
The OECD's most recent data for Israel, which comes from 2019, states the poverty rate is 17.3%. But according to figures quoted in The Times of Israel, 233,000 new households fell into "financial distress" over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests that the poverty rate could be much higher than 17.3% in 2022.
USA: 18% of the population in poverty
America is one of the most unequal countries on the planet in terms of wealth distribution, with a huge gap between the rich and poor. Low social security benefits and a lack of universal healthcare only add to the country's poverty problem, yet 70% of Americans believe it's a necessary byproduct of living in a free market economy, according to data from Statista. Even more shockingly, 13 million US residents know somebody who died because they couldn't afford medical care. And the issue is only getting worse, as the percentage of people in poverty has risen from 16.8% as recorded by the OECD back in 2014.
South Africa: 27.7% of the population in poverty
Financial inequality is rife in South Africa, where approximately 65% of wealth is held by just 10% of the population. This is even higher than in the US, where an estimated 45% was held by the top 10% in 2016. The good news is that South Africa's sky-high poverty rate is decreasing, but still remains at a staggering 27.7%. This hasn't been helped by the COVID-19 pandemic; in 2021 the country reported its highest ever unemployment rate of 35.3%.
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