The child poverty rate is highest in these five countries. Animals evacuated from Germany’s Serengeti Park due to flooding

Poverty is often referred to as a lack of financial resources. But other factors such as healthy food, appropriate housing, health care and education can also be included in measuring poverty. As a result, different values ​​or parameters are used to measure poverty depending on the country or institution. An international comparison of these values ​​is often not possible.

To enable international comparison of poverty, the World Bank has defined globally applicable parameters. The decisive factor here is the daily resources available, adapted to purchasing power. If you have a daily budget of less than $2.15, adjusted for purchasing power, you are considered to live in extreme poverty. Worldwide, approximately 647 million people fall into this poverty category, including 333 million children and youth, according to World Bank estimates. The majority of these people live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

This is also clearly visible in the countries most affected by child poverty. Of the twenty countries with the highest child poverty rates, the Republic of Yemen is only one country that is not on the African continent. These are the five countries with the highest child poverty rates according to the World Bank:

Madagascar

According to World Bank criteria, Madagascar is far behind in first place when it comes to child poverty. This is how they live, according to this year’s estimates 86.8 percent of all children in Madagascar with less than 2.15 purchasing power-adjusted dollars per day. This is the case in absolute numbers 13.2 million Children.

The total population of Madagascar is estimated at approximately 29 million. The CIA estimates purchasing power-adjusted gross domestic product at about $43 billion. By comparison, the city of Zurich with its 430,000 inhabitants has a purchasing power-adjusted GDP of about $52 billion.

The island nation in western India off the coast of Mozambique was a French colony from 1896 to 1960. Democratic presidential elections were held in Madagascar in 2013, 2018 and 2023.

Burundi

The small Central African country of Burundi comes in inglorious second place. According to the World Bank 79.1 percent of people under the age of 18 are affected by extreme poverty. 5.5 million Children and young people are therefore affected by extreme poverty.

The country is comparable in size to Belgium and has approximately 13 million inhabitants. Burundi is considered the poorest country in the world and has a purchasing power-adjusted GDP per capita of only about US$700, which is only about half that of Madagascar.

The country was founded as a kingdom in the 16th century. During the colonial period it was first controlled by the Germans and then by the Belgians before gaining independence in 1962. In 2005, democratic elections were held for the second time in the country’s history. Since then, elections have been held every five years.

Southern Sudan

South Sudan is the youngest country in the world. The state west of Ethiopia officially seceded from the largely Muslim rest of Sudan in July 2011. This separation has probably only promoted child poverty to a limited extent. While in Sudan it is “only” 31 percent, South Sudan has a child poverty rate of around 30% 77.7 percent and is therefore in third place in the rankings.

The country covers an area the size of France, entirely within the African continent. The country has approximately 12 million inhabitants. Live all the way in the country 5.1 million children and young people affected by extreme poverty.

The country has been in constant political chaos since its founding. The last democratic elections took place in 2010, before South Sudan’s official declaration of independence. The next elections are scheduled for 2024.

Malawi

75.3 percent Malawi’s underage population is affected by extreme poverty. These are round 7.8 million Children and young people.

Malawi is almost the size of England and has approximately 21.3 million inhabitants. The country became independent from Great Britain in 1964. Democratic elections have been held regularly since 1994.

With a purchasing power-adjusted GDP per capita of about $1,500, the republic is roughly on par with Madagascar and South Sudan.

Central-African Republic

The Central African Republic is located north of the two Congos and west of Cameroon in the interior of Africa. With a child poverty rate of 72.2 percent The Central African Republic ranks fifth among countries with the highest child poverty rate.

Although the country is similar in size to France, only about 5.6 million people live in this landlocked country. There are approximately 1.9 million Minors in extreme poverty.

Since independence in 1960, the republic has experienced a total of five coups, the first in 1966 and the last in March 2013.

Despite the 2020 elections, armed militias remain in power in large parts of the country. Political instability is also likely to be one of the causes of the country’s poor economic performance. After Burundi, the Central African Republic is the country with the second lowest GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, in the world. It only costs about $800.