This study aims to determine the characteristics and potential of the extreme poor as a first step in the preparation of policies to accelerate extreme poverty alleviation in the Mentawai Islands Regency of West Sumatra province. Using descriptive qualitative research method on 24,748 extreme poor people in P3KE data, it is known that; low welfare status, 63 per cent unemployed, working in the agricultural sector, not all received poverty programme assistance, male-dominated household head, productive age, many school-age children, low education level, utilising wells and rainwater, non-electricity source of lighting and using public BAB facilities.