Poverty and Deprivation in Bhutan's Mountains: Spatial Patterns, Structural Challenges, and Policy Responses

Abstract

This study examines the multidimensional nature of poverty in Bhutan, situating the analysis within global debates on poverty alleviation and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 1. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates national poverty data, a recalibrated Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and qualitative evidence on rural connectivity, ecological fragility, and institutional capacity. By introducing mountain-specific indicators—such as accessibility constraints, climate vulnerability, and livelihood insecurity—the study demonstrates how conventional measures underestimate deprivation in geographically fragile regions. Findings reveal that multidimensional poverty in Bhutan is disproportionately concentrated in remote mountain districts, where food insecurity, child undernutrition, and systemic exclusion from basic services persist. These vulnerabilities are further compounded by climate change, human–wildlife conflict, and rural–urban migration, resulting in labour shortages and declining agricultural productivity. The paper's methodological innovation—integrating spatially explicit, mountain-sensitive indicators into poverty measurement—offers broader lessons for global poverty analysis, particularly in other mountainous and ecologically fragile contexts. The findings highlight the policy imperative of geographically disaggregated, resilience-oriented strategies for inclusive rural development, climate-resilient livelihoods, and adaptive social protection, thereby contributing to both national priorities and the global agenda for eradicating poverty in all its forms.