Beyond Income: A Comparative Analysis of Income-Based and Multidimensional Poverty across Districts of Lesotho

Poverty measurement in Lesotho has long relied on income-based thresholds, yet such measures fail to capture the full range of deprivations experienced by households. This study compares income poverty and multidimensional poverty across all ten districts of Lesotho, drawing on secondary data and the Alkire-Foster methodology. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is constructed using twelve indicators spanning health, education, and living standards. Descriptive statistics reveal substantial interdistrict variation in both poverty measures, though the distribution of income poverty is more heavily skewed, with a few districts recording exceptionally high levels. A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.64) between the two measures indicates partial overlap but also meaningful divergence. Multidimensional poverty demonstrates stronger associations with structural variables, including per capita income, urbanisation, and social sector expenditure, than income poverty does. District-level clustering further reveals that approximately 27 per cent of the population resides in areas where the two measures diverge considerably. These findings confirm that income-based assessments systematically understate deprivation. Effective poverty reduction in Lesotho requires multidimensional frameworks that account for capability deficits alongside income shortfalls, and that inform spatially targeted, sectorally integrated policy responses.