Of those, a mere 10 million - a measure of the nation's persistent poverty - are judged to earn enough to be liable for income tax.

It estimated that 7.7 million people lived in persistent poverty, defined as having been poor for at least two of the previous three years.

The report found that 7.7m people were in persistent poverty, lasting more than four years, and 8m were in deep poverty, more than 10% below the poverty line.

Dependency theory was created to explain the persistent poverty of poor countries, and how their situation was formed.

Throughout the region persistent poverty and stagnant economies have combined to hinder full participation in the global marketplace.