What does it mean to be hungry and poor? With such divergence across countries as to what the "poverty line" means, we set out to visualize what poverty looks like by highlighting something that everyone can understand -- food.  Starting from the oft-quoted $1 per person, per day U.N. figure, we attempted to calculate our own national figures, creating a visual portrayal of items found in a given country that could be bought by a person living at the poverty line. For developed countries, where there is relatively updated household consumption data, we focused on the average daily amount that a person at the poverty line would spend on food. For developing countries, we used the average amount that a person at the poverty line earns and spends each day. From Australia to Madagascar, from France to Nepal, here's what we found. Above, 7.52 Australian dollars, or 8.02 U.S. dollars (as of Feb. 23), of avocados. 

The Poverty Line

By
|
Start Slideshow View as a List
    What does it mean to be hungry and poor? With such divergence across countries as to what the "poverty line" means, we set out to visualize what poverty looks like by highlighting something that everyone can understand -- food.  Starting from the oft-quoted $1 per person, per day U.N. figure, we attempted to calculate our own national figures, creating a visual portrayal of items found in a given country that could be bought by a person living at the poverty line. For developed countries, where there is relatively updated household consumption data, we focused on the average daily amount that a person at the poverty line would spend on food. For developing countries, we used the average amount that a person at the poverty line earns and spends each day. From Australia to Madagascar, from France to Nepal, here's what we found. Above, 7.52 Australian dollars, or 8.02 U.S. dollars (as of Feb. 23), of avocados. 

 

 

What does it mean to be hungry and poor? With such divergence across countries as to what the "poverty line" means, we set out to visualize what poverty looks like by highlighting something that everyone can understand -- food. 

Starting from the oft-quoted $1 per person, per day U.N. figure, we attempted to calculate our own national figures, creating a visual portrayal of items found in a given country that could be bought by a person living at the poverty line. For developed countries, where there is relatively updated household consumption data, we focused on the average daily amount that a person at the poverty line would spend on food. For developing countries, we used the average amount that a person at the poverty line earns and spends each day. From Australia to Madagascar, from France to Nepal, here's what we found.

Above, 7.52 Australian dollars, or 8.02 U.S. dollars (as of Feb. 23), of avocados. 

7.52 Australian dollars of oranges.

7.52 Australian dollars of oranges.

7.52 Australian dollars of turkey wings.

7.52 Australian dollars of turkey wings.

3.28 Chinese yuan, or 0.52 U.S. dollars, of bok choy.

3.28 Chinese yuan, or 0.52 U.S. dollars, of bok choy.

3.28 Chinese yuan of buns.

3.28 Chinese yuan of buns.

3.28 Chinese yuan of chicken breast.

3.28 Chinese yuan of chicken breast.

5.60 euros, or 7.45 U.S. dollars, of French artichokes.

5.60 euros, or 7.45 U.S. dollars, of French artichokes.

5.60 euros of French grapes.

5.60 euros of French grapes.

5.60 euros of French croissants.

5.60 euros of French croissants.

4.82 euros, or 6.41 U.S. dollars, of German bread.

4.82 euros, or 6.41 U.S. dollars, of German bread.

4.82 euros of German gummy bears.

4.82 euros of German gummy bears.

4.82 euros of German Brussels sprouts.

4.82 euros of German Brussels sprouts.

44.96 Hong Kong dollars, or 5.79 U.S. dollars, of apples.

44.96 Hong Kong dollars, or 5.79 U.S. dollars, of apples.

44.96 Hong Kong dollars of fish.

44.96 Hong Kong dollars of fish.

44.96 Hong Kong dollars of dried noodles.

44.96 Hong Kong dollars of dried noodles.

394 Japanese yen, or 4.91 U.S. dollars, of tuna.

394 Japanese yen, or 4.91 U.S. dollars, of tuna.

394 Japanese yen of yam.

394 Japanese yen of yam.

394 Japanese yen of nori snack and peanuts.

394 Japanese yen of nori snack and peanuts.

1,284 Malagasy ariary, or 0.58 U.S. dollars, of cucumbers from Madagascar.

1,284 Malagasy ariary, or 0.58 U.S. dollars, of cucumbers from Madagascar.

1,284 Malagasy ariary of garlic.

1,284 Malagasy ariary of garlic.

1,284 Malagasy ariary of dried fish.

1,284 Malagasy ariary of dried fish.

32.88 Nepali rupees, or 0.41 U.S. dollars, of Nescafé instant coffee.

32.88 Nepali rupees, or 0.41 U.S. dollars, of Nescafé instant coffee.

32.88 Nepali rupees of lentils.

32.88 Nepali rupees of lentils.

32.88 Nepali rupees of buffalo meat.

32.88 Nepali rupees of buffalo meat.

52.87 Thai baht, or 1.74 U.S. dollars, of lemon grass.

52.87 Thai baht, or 1.74 U.S. dollars, of lemon grass.

52.87 Thai baht of instant noodles. 

52.87 Thai baht of instant noodles. 

52.87 Thai baht of fried fish.

52.87 Thai baht of fried fish.

More from The World in Photos This WeekRock the VoteFace OffPreparing for a Very Cold War

More from FP

The World in Photos This Week

Rock the Vote

Face Off

Preparing for a Very Cold War

Previous Next Close

The Poverty Line