by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
Might 27, 2025
Poverty charges practically slashed in half in each city and rural areas throughout the Caribbean nation.
Jamaica is celebrating a report drop in its poverty charges, with 8.2% being the bottom in its historical past.
The Director Basic of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, introduced the information Might 21. Henry shared the figures from 2023 throughout the PIOJ’s quarterly media briefing on the state of the financial system.
In keeping with Loop Information, this share practically dropped in half from the recorded poverty price of 16.7% in 2021. This newest 8.2% price grew to become the bottom ever recorded since Jamaica started measuring poverty charges in 1989.
Henry confirmed that figures for 2024 might be revealed later this 12 months. The information is detailed within the Jamaica Survey of Residing Circumstances (JSLC), collected by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).
Whereas Jamaicans have a good time this achievement, Henry said that these numbers stay unconfirmed. No poverty outcomes had been decided in 2022, with STATIN additionally revising the pattern design and weighting methodology to the JSLC pattern used to gather poverty charges.
Moreover, Henry emphasised that charges from 2012 to 2017 had been revised to raised examine with later years. He reiterated that his fellow countrymen ought to bear in mind this context whereas acknowledging this progress.
“Subsequently, knowledge previous to 2012 shouldn’t be in contrast with knowledge for 2012 to 2023,” Henry suggested. “Whereas the development in poverty discount stays clear and credible, comparisons throughout years, significantly with pre-revision estimates, must be interpreted with warning,” he mentioned.
He famous that the elevated quantity in 2021 seemingly stemmed from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of this variability, Jamaica has progressed in lowering its poverty.
“Whereas this can be a optimistic improvement, we observe that there was excessive variability round this estimate. As such, perhaps [it was] much less exact than others. It ought to subsequently be interpreted with some warning,” mentioned Henry.
These lowering numbers impacted each city and rural areas. The poverty price within the Larger Kingston Metropolitan space dropped from 10.4% in 2021 to three% in 2023. Rural areas’ charges slashed from 22.1% to 11.5% between these years.
Moreover, Jamaica famous a decline in meals poverty, often known as excessive poverty. The nation additionally lately celebrated its lowest month-to-month homicide toll in 25 years final March.
“Within the Jamaican context, meals poverty refers back to the incapacity of a family to afford the minimal every day caloric consumption required for good well being,” defined Henry.
These decreased poverty numbers embrace Jamaica’s restoration from the influence of COVID-19 and an increase in employment. The progress additionally stems from a rise within the minimal wage as social safety applications higher serve nationals.
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