Poverty reduction is a goal and a regular issue in the discussions of many international
organisations. A life in poverty deprives people of their basic needs and the opportunities for
self-development. Children living in poverty are not given the same conditions and
opportunities as their peers in terms of healthcare, education, clothing, food, free time and
relationships. Poverty definitions determine who is considered to be poor and what standard
of living is still considered acceptable. The definitions vary among international organisations
and among countries. Equivalence scales are used in order to compare the levels of the
resources of households of different sizes and compositions. The first goal of this thesis is to
contrast the different approaches to defining poverty lines in developing and developed
countries. The second goal is to find out how governments around the world adjust poverty
lines for different family sizes and compositions.