Girl holding up period pads

How much do you know about period poverty?

Periods come and go. For many of us they're a cycle of highs and lows - at best inconvenient, at worst bloody painful. 

But if you live in poverty, a period is much more than that. 

Why? Because centuries of discrimination and oppression have left crucial areas neglected and underfunded - and your community under resourced.  

How much do you know about this global issue? Take the quiz and find out!

1. It’s estimated that, around the world, how many people lack access to the facilities they need to manage their period?
2. In the UK, how much money does the average person who menstruates spend on period products in their lifetime?
3. In the UK, what percentage of people who menstruate have struggled to afford period products, as of 2026?
4. In Malawi, how much does a pack of sanitary pads cost?
5. In Bangladesh, what percentage of girls were aware of menstruation before their first period?
6. How can a monthly donation to ActionAid support communities to tackle period poverty?
Want the answers? Enter your details on the next page to get the answers.
     Susan (18) is a very active participant of the AA-funded workshops run by local partner organisation Community Transformation Agenda (COTA) in Uganda.   Esther Mbabazi / ActionAid       

    Page updated 20 May 2026