Abstract
The most recent estimate of monetary poverty in Armenia found that nearly 30 percent of the population lives below the national poverty threshold. However, because the Armenian social protection system provides some, though limited, basic support, monetary measures provide only a partial picture of the negative effects of poverty on well-being and the lack of positive capabilities.
In 2013, the National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia and the World Bank began work on a national measure of multidimensional poverty to supplement the consumption poverty indicator. This measure, which was identified through consultations with many stakeholders in Armenia, reflects deprivations specific to Armenia in the areas of education, health, labor, housing conditions, and basic needs. The approach offers insights into the complexity, depth, and persistence of poverty in the country; tailoring it specifically to the country context enhances its relevance for policy.
The national measure of multidimensional poverty for Armenia uses the Alkire-Foster approach.This tailored measure is not intended to be used in international comparisons; it is simply representative of the country and its specific development challenges. For every multidimensional measure, the dimensions, weights, and a method for aggregation must be selected.
The first step in constructing the measure of multidimensional poverty is to select dimensions that reflect achievements or deprivations. These indicators complement the national monetary poverty measure with information that better captures nonmonetary aspects of well-being. The primary dimensions of the measure are basic needs, housing, education, labor, and health.
The datasets documented here include 2010-2015 national multidimensional poverty indices, constructed using Armenia Integrated Living Conditions Survey (ILCS) data from 2010 to 2015.
