Multidimensional Poverty Index — Definition

Definition

A multidimensional poverty index combines deprivations across several aspects of life rather than measuring poverty through money alone. India's National MPI covers health, education and standard of living through weighted indicators.

A person is classified through the applicable household deprivation score and cutoff; the aggregate index then combines the incidence of multidimensional poverty with its average intensity among the poor.

The index is therefore not simply the percentage of people lacking one service. Its interpretation requires the indicator weights, the identification threshold and the distinction between headcount and intensity.