Final answer:
a. Children under age 18 have the highest rate of poverty compared to teenagers, women, and older adults, but women still represent a disproportionately high number among the poor, due to the 'feminization of poverty'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question seeks to identify which group has the highest rate of poverty. According to various sources and statistical data, a. children (under age 18) tend to have higher poverty rates compared to other demographic groups such as teenagers, women, and older adults.
Despite the global decline in extreme poverty rates, women continue to represent a disproportionate share amongst the world's poor, often referred to as the feminization of poverty. However, when examining specific age groups, the data from 2013 show that people under age 18 generally have higher poverty rates than the other age brackets listed.
In summary, children have the highest rates of poverty, and this has been a consistent trend over time, although other groups also experience significant rates of poverty, including women, who suffer from systemic issues leading to their higher rates of poverty.