
A poverty map is a
map
A map is a symbolic depiction of interrelationships, commonly spatial, between things within a space. A map may be annotated with text and graphics. Like any graphic, a map may be fixed to paper or other durable media, or may be displayed on ...
which provides a detailed description of the spatial distribution of
poverty
Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...
and
inequality within a country. It combines individual and household (micro) survey data and population (macro) census data with the objective of estimating welfare indicators for specific geographic area as small as village or hamlet. Efforts to eradicate poverty— prioritized as the first
Millennium Development Goal
In the United Nations, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 created following the Millennium Summit, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. These ...
(MDGs) and later continued in the
Sustainable Development Goals
The ''2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'', adopted by all United Nations (UN) members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of these global goals is "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" – wh ...
(SDGs)—depend on understanding the geographic distribution of poor populations. Poverty maps are often combined with additional data sources, including local knowledge and socioeconomic indicators, to enhance their effectiveness in policymaking.
This helps identify geographic disparities, highlight lagging regions, visualize multiple dimensions of welfare simultaneously, and analyze the underlying factors contributing to poverty. Insights from poverty maps support targeted interventions and resource allocation strategies to address regional inequalities.
Recent advances in
geographic information systems
A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data. Much of this often happens within a spatial database; however, this is not ...
(
GIS), databases and computer aided software engineering make poverty mapping possible, where data can be presented in the form of maps and overlaying interfaces for cross-comparisons. Spatial analysis and benchmarking are also applied to assess the relationships between the two sets of micro and macro data according to their geographic location.
See also
*
Geography and Wealth
*
Life and Labour of the People in London
''Life and Labour of the People in London'' was a multi-volume book by Charles Booth (social reformer), Charles Booth which provided a survey of the lives and occupations of the working class of late 19th-century London, 19th century London. Th ...
*
Spatial Inequality
References
{{Reflist
External links
Mapping poverty in America
Measurements and definitions of poverty
Economic geography
Map types