Muhammad Yunus

Issue / Poverty in Bangladesh

Practically surrounded by India, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. There are about 153 million people, most of whom live below the poverty level. In fact, it is estimated that families spend 75% of their income to feed themselves, and that 60% are undernourished. In 1974, the country experienced a terrible famine, caused in large part by an increase in the price of rice, its main crop.

Bangladeshis have few means of escaping poverty, in the face of the lack of jobs and investment capital, political problems, vagaries of the weather and lack of infrastructure. As most people do not own enough property to guaranty a loan, they are constantly refused access to credit. They often turn to pawnshops, whose interest rates push their clients even deeper into debt and misfortune.