Developing a national Multidimensional Poverty Index for Timor-Leste

The R script presented here was used to calculate a national Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for Timor-Leste, using data from the 2015 Population and Housing Census. Most survey-based poverty estimates are limited by sample sizes and are normally only able to produce reliable results for the highest level of administrative units. The code demonstrates how this hurdle can be overcome by calculating a Census-based MPI that allows for robust estimates for lower geographical levels. This is the first time such an approach has been taken for the production of poverty estimates for Timor-Leste. Also included are the questionnaires for the 2010 and 2015 Timor-Leste Population and Housing Census to help identify variables and variable categories.