TIJUANA – Despite being one of Mexico's richest states, 70 percent of Baja California's population – some 2.2 million people -- do not earn enough to cover their basic food needs.

That's one of the conclusions from a groundbreaking national study to be released by year's end that examines poverty across Mexico down to the neighborhood level.

Several of the study's researchers gave a preview of the findings Tuesday at a seminar at the think tank College of the Northern Border, known as Colef. They are from the national Center for Research and Higher Studies in Anthropology, whose work focuses on poverty.

The study, based on the 2010 Census, used three levels to measure poverty in several categories: "vulnerable to shortages," "moderate" and "extreme."

The study defined "moderate poverty" as those whose salary is not enough to cover their basic needs and "extreme poverty" as people who have no income.

Some 43.3 percent of the state's population – 10 percent more than the national median -- is vulnerable to shortages, said researcher Agustín Escobar.

A total of 3.4 percent of the state's population (107,272 people) live in extreme poverty, compared to the national median of 10.5 percent; while 22.9 percent (722,511 people) live in moderate poverty, compared to the national median of 33.7 percent, said Escobar.

The study will be released by a national council, made up of academics and public officials, which evaluates social development.

For the first time, it measures poverty down to the neighborhood level in all municipalities of the country, pinpointing areas of greatest need.

The president of Colef, Tonatiuh Guillén, said that this work will be used to form state and federal public policies.

"When we have generated information about poverty, it's not precise as to where the poverty is concentrated, under what conditions it exists," he said. "This study will facilitate federal programs that will be almost tailor-made."

This official measurement of poverty in the study evaluates income, education, access to health, access to public safety, housing quality, housing services, social cohesion and access to food.

According to Escobar, 47.3 million people in Mexico live in extreme or moderate poverty, some 41.1 percent of population, with indigenous populations the most affected.

The study did not reveal a relationship between poverty and the outbreaks of violence, said another of the speakers, Gerardo Franco, the director of evaluation in a federal development program.

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com