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Articles

Vol. 21 No. 66 (2026)

How is poverty measured in Mexico? An application of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) using household survey data (ENIGH)

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29201/ymeqtx88
Published
July 5, 2026

Abstract

This article aims to clearly explain how poverty is measured from a multidimensional perspective using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Unlike measures based solely on income, this approach considers various aspects related to household well-being, such as health, education, and living conditions.

For the case of Mexico, the MPI methodology is applied using data from the 2024 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH). Due to limited data availability, proxy variables are used to approximate certain indicators.

Finally, the results are compared with the official poverty estimates produced by CONEVAL. Although there are differences in the estimated levels across methodologies, the MPI provides a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of poverty and offers empirical evidence that both approaches identify similar patterns of poverty across Mexican states.

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