Bulgaria has made notable progress in improving conditions for women, including higher employment and workforce participation rates. However, gender inequality remains a widespread issue. The 2023 Gender Equality Index indicates that Bulgaria still ranks below the EU average, despite an increase by 4.4 points since 2020. The gender wage gap in Bulgaria serves as a […]
The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated United States territory, comprises the three Caribbean islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix. They span 737 square miles of hilly, rugged and mountainous terrain, with little flat land and less than 3% arable. The islands are sparsely populated (a total of 104,477) with low density. […]
Once a nation where poverty cast a long shadow over its people, Panama has undergone a striking transformation since the late 20th century. In 1995, the poverty headcount ratio for all Panamanians stood at a daunting 21.1%. Over the following decades, steady progress chipped away at this figure—dropping to 14.5% by 2005, 7.7% in 2010 […]
Singapore is home to one of the world’s most affluent and exhilarating economic markets, a world-class healthcare system and an exquisite cuisine. Yet, beneath this polished image, lies concerns that receive far less attention: the invisible inequality around disability and poverty in Singapore. These matters continually involve barriers and challenges that the Singapore government is […]
Laos is one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful and significant countries in terms of biodiversity – but also one of the region’s poorest nations. Foreign aid to Laos is key to alleviating this and protecting the country. With around 40% of Laotians living in poverty in the 1990s, the country has seen significant growth in […]
As the most populous nation and strongest economy in the North Africa region, Egypt presents a striking dichotomy: stable economic growth alongside a persistent national poverty crisis. To fight the structural imbalance that has allowed 30% of the population to live below the global poverty line, the Egyptian government, alongside international partners, has turned skills-based […]
Being poor in Panama reveals a troubling paradox. The country has enjoyed rapid economic growth and ranks among Central America’s wealthiest nations, buoyed by revenue from the Panama Canal and foreign investment. Yet, stark inequality persists, with poverty visible even in the capital’s skyscraper-dominated urban core. Panama’s GDP grew by 7.4% in 2023, and its […]
As is the trend around the world, there is a correlation between disability and poverty in Cabo Verde, with those with disabilities being more likely than their able counterparts to live under the poverty line. However, the International Labour Organization (ILO) commends the island nation for establishing a social protection floor for some of its […]
Papua New Guinea is a developing country located in southwest Oceania. In 2021, U.N. Women reported the island country’s designation as a “lower middle-income country,” amassing a gross national per capita income of $2,386. Based on U.N. Women’s study, statistics show that Papua New Guinea’s income poverty sits at 28%, with 90% of those most […]
Despite its status as a high-income country, poverty in South Korea remains a persistent challenge as the country strives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which is to end poverty. However, the newly proposed 2025 budget plan shows potential for significant progress to occur at both the domestic and international levels. Here are some […]
