Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Poverty Using Satellite Imagery in Thailand

The “leave no one behind” principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires appropriate indicators for different segments of a country’s population. This entails detailed, granular data on population groups that extend beyond national trends and averages. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the National Statistical Office of Thailand and the Word Data Lab, conducted a feasibility study to enhance the granularity, cost-effectiveness, and compilation of high-quality poverty statistics in Thailand. This report documents the results of the study, providing insights on data collection requirements, advanced algorithmic techniques, and validation of poverty estimates using artificial intelligence to complement traditional data sources and conventional survey methods.