Monitoring the Spread of Poverty in the Provinces of the Country

The main objective of development is to eradicate poverty in each society as well as make a plan for its eradication. Realization of this major issue requires understanding the status quo and choosing poverty probability index. In this connection, the present study aims to measure the spatial distribution of poverty in different provinces of our country in order to provide more realistic planning for the eradication of poverty. A descriptive-analytical research method (with the practical aim) has been used. Since the poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon, 18 economic, social, cultural and physical indicators have been used to analyze the poverty in this paper. Analytic Network Process (ANP) has been used to express the relative importance of each index as well as PROMETHEE method and GAIA Data Processing have been used to analyze the data. Results of the research show that Zanjan, Yazd, East Azarbaijan, Mazandaran and South Khorasan Provinces are the richest but Kerman, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Kohkiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Provinces are known as the poorest provinces of the country. The spatial distribution of poverty in Iran’s territorial zone implies that most of the poor provinces are located in both southeastern and western regions of our country.