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Extreme poverty very low in Fiji: World Bank

April 16, 2015 9:12 pm

The World Bank says incidence of extreme poverty is low in Fiji with about 5.9% of the population living below the poverty line in 2008.

In its ‘East Asia and Pacific Economic Update’ for this month it says about a 5th of the population lived under the $2 per day poverty.

The Bank says it has been assessed that the incidence of both $2 and $1.25 poverty has declined very little over recent years and some poverty reduction has been achieved in urban areas, where service sector growth has generated new opportunities.

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The World Bank says stubborn rural poverty reflects weak agricultural growth and a stagnant sugar sector.

However, it says the Fijian government places considerable importance on poverty reduction through the Poverty Benefit Scheme and supporting income generating activities.