Baghdad: Minister of Planning, Dr. Mohammed Tamim, announced that poverty rates in Iraq will drop to 10.8 percent by 2024. Tamim made this announcement during a press conference to launch the National Multidimensional Poverty Index report, which was conducted in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program. He stated that the report was prepared based on the results of the social household survey, which constituted one of the main pillars for constructing the poverty index in Iraq.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the report will directly contribute to diagnosing the basic needs and conditions of citizens in the governorates. The Minister noted that the poverty rate in the country decreased from 11.3 percent to 10.8 percent, with the decline continuing gradually. Furthermore, Dr. Tamim announced the Ministry’s intention to launch a multidimensional poverty index for women. He emphasized that Iraq is one of the first countries in the world to launch a national poverty report, and mentioned that a new index on child poverty will be prepared based on the results of the general census.