Changes in absolute poverty

Absolute poverty is a measure of poverty in which individuals or households are deemed to be living in poverty if they are not able to meet certain basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, and access to basic health care. Over time, absolute poverty levels have decreased. This is largely due to improvements in economic growth, agricultural productivity, public health measures, education, and technological innovation that have increased people's access to resources and improved their livelihoods. Additionally, many countries have put in place social protection policies to reduce poverty levels. These include minimum wages, pension systems, unemployment benefits, and social safety nets for vulnerable populations. These measures have contributed to an overall decline in absolute poverty levels, both globally and in individual countries.