Working together to end poverty and injustice

Poverty in the Pacific

In Fiji, 25 per cent of the population lives below the National Basic Needs Poverty Line*

A lack of basic services such as healthcare, safe water, schools, electricity and telephones remains a serious problem for many communities in the Pacific.

Poverty in the region is a significant and growing problem due to more than two decades of weak economic performance, population growth, urban migration and increasing inequalities.

Pacific Island countries are highly vulnerable to sudden economic or environmental changes as a result of their remoteness, geographical spread, susceptibility to natural disasters, high level of exposure to overseas markets, small internal markets and limited natural resources.

School fees or food?

Many Pacific Island people lack the opportunity to work and earn a steady income. They live below the National Basic Needs Poverty Line*. This means they do not have sufficient funds to meet their own daily needs and the needs of their family. Every day they must face difficult choices on how to spend their limited cash resources. Should they pay school fees, should they buy food for the family, or should they send their children to school without lunch?

Many Pacific Island countries are being pressured by rich countries through the World Trade Organisation to make commitments to further open their economies to foreign goods and services. This will mean Pacific governments will lose much-needed revenue to invest in basic services. They will also lose control over trade policies that will help them develop their economies and end poverty.

Key Facts

Papua New Guinea

• 38 per cent of the population lives below the National Basic Needs Poverty Line*.
• According to education enrolment rates, only 41 per cent of children are receiving an education.
• PNG is facing the threat of an HIV and AIDS epidemic.
• 61 per cent of the population does not have access to safe water.

Vanuatu

• 40 per cent of the population lives below the National Basic Needs Poverty Line.
• 40 per cent of the population does not have access to safe water.
• Only 58 per cent of children are enrolled in education.

Fiji

• 25 per cent of the population lives below the National Basic Needs Poverty Line.
• 53 per cent of the population does not have access to safe water.
• Only 12 per cent of the rural population has access to adequate sanitation.

Samoa

• 20 per cent of the population lives below the National Basic Needs Poverty Line.
• Lack of employment for young people is a critical issue. Many young people must travel overseas to find work.

Solomon Islands

• Only 52 per cent of children are enrolled in education and even fewer complete their education.
• 30 per cent of the population does not have access to safe water.
• Only 77 per cent of adults are literate.

*National Basic Needs Poverty Line is a measure of the minimum income needed to buy sufficient food and meet basic requirements such as housing, clothing, transport, school fees etc. Statistics are taken from the Asian Development Bank report Hardship and Poverty in the Pacific (December 2004) and the UNDP Human Development Report statistics.

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