List of countries by percentage of population living in poverty explained

This is a list of countries by percentage of population living in poverty, as recorded by the World Bank and Our World in Data.

Methodology

Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter.^[1] ^[2] There are many working definitions of "poverty", with considerable debate on the most accurate definition of the term.

Lack of income security, economic stability and the predictability of one's continued means to meet basic needs all serve as absolute indicators of poverty. Poverty may therefore also be defined as the economic condition of lacking predictable and stable means of meeting basic life needs.

The first table lists countries by the percentage of their population with an income of less than $2.15 (the extreme poverty line), $3.65 and $6.85 US dollars a day in 2017 international (PPP) prices. The data is from the most recent year available from the World Bank API.^[3] ^[4]

As differences in price levels across the world evolve, the global poverty line has to be periodically updated to reflect these changes. The World Bank updated the global poverty lines in September 2022. The decision follows the release in 2020 of new purchasing power parities (PPPs)—the main data used to convert different currencies into a common, comparable unit and account for price differences across countries. The new extreme poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, which replaces the $1.90 poverty line, is based on 2017 PPPs.^[5] This means that anyone living on less than $2.15 a day is considered to be living in extreme poverty. About 648 million people globally were in this situation in 2019.

The second table lists countries by the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line—the poverty line deemed appropriate for a country by its authorities. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.

Definitions of the poverty line vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations. Even among rich nations, the standards differ greatly. Thus, the numbers are not comparable among countries. Even when nations do use the same method, some issues may remain.^[6]

Only countries for which sourced data is available are listed. Data for some countries, including Libya and Saudi Arabia, remains unavailable. It was usually accepted that over one third (33.3%) of the population in Libya and Saudi Arabia were living in the previous decade below the poverty line.^[7] ^[8]

Percentage of population living on less than $2.15, $3.65 and $6.85 a day

Percentage of population (including non-citizens) living on less than $2.15, $3.65 and $6.85 a day in 2017 international (PPP) dollars as per the World Bank and Our World in Data. Sorting is by country code.

Percent of population living on less than poverty thresholds
data-sort-type = text	Country	data-sort-type = number width="55pt"	$2.15	data-sort-type = number width="55pt"	$3.65	data-sort-type = number width="55pt"	$6.85	data-sort-type = number width="55pt"	Year
World	9.0%	22.7%	45.5%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	31.1%	52.9%	78.0%	2018
	0%	1.5%	13.7%	2020
	N/A
	0%	0%	0.4%	2018
	0.6%	2.5%	10.9%	2022
	0.8%	10.0%	51.3%	2022
	N/A
	0.5%	0.7%	1.0%	2018
	0.5%	0.5%	1.1%	2021
	0%	0.3%	31.3%	2005
	62.1%	86.2%	96.8%	2020
	0%	0.1%	0.2%	2021
	12.7%	43.4%	81.4%	2021
	25.3%	60.7%	88.1%	2021
	5.0%	30.0%	74.1%	2022
	0.7%	2.0%	5.8%	2021
	N/A
	N/A
	0.1%	0.8%	5.8%	2011
	0%	0.1%	1.3%	2020
	19.6%	39.1%	66.8%	1999
	N/A
	2.0%	5.4%	15.2%	2021
	3.5%	8.4%	23.5%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	0%	0.5%	8.4%	2022
	15.4%	38.0%	63.5%	2015
	65.7%	85.8%	96.2%	2021
	0.2%	0.5%	0.7%	2019
	0%	0.1%	0.1%	2020
	N/A
	0.4%	0.9%	4.7%	2022
	0.1%	2.0%	24.7%	2020
	9.7%	38.4%	76.4%	2021
	23.0%	46.7%	76.0%	2021
	78.9%	92.1%	97.7%	2020
	35.4%	59.1%	83.5%	2011
	6.0%	14.0%	34.8%	2022
	18.6%	39.5%	68.6%	2014
	4.6%	19.3%	50.9%	2015
	0.9%	3.3%	14.1%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	0%	0.1%	0.1%	2021
	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2021
	0%	0.2%	0.2%	2019
	19.1%	43.8%	78.5%	2017
	N/A
	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	2021
	0.8%	4.0%	21.5%	2022
	0.5%	4.0%	36.6%	2011
	3.2%	9.5%	29.9%	2022
	1.5%	17.6%	68.8%	2019
	N/A
	0.6%	0.9%	1.9%	2021
	0.3%	0.4%	0.7%	2021
	27.0%	65.0%	90.9%	2015
	0%	0%	0.1%	2021
	1.3%	12.4%	52.6%	2019
	0.1%	0.2%	0.5%	2021
	N/A
	16.0%	40.8%	74.9%	2013
	2.5%	8.1%	31.2%	2017
	0.2%	0.5%	0.7%	2021
	5.5%	19.1%	55.4%	2021
	25.2%	48.8%	78.5%	2016
	N/A
	13.8%	46.6%	86.8%	2018
	17.2%	47.0%	80.6%	2020
	26.0%	60.2%	89.1%	2021
	N/A
	0.6%	1.1%	2.9%	2021
	0.3%	1.3%	13.8%	2018
	N/A
	9.5%	25.9%	55.4%	2014
	N/A
	11.9%	24.9%	56.6%	1998
	N/A
	12.7%	26.4%	49.5%	2019
	0.3%	0.4%	1.8%	2021
	29.2%	58.0%	85.8%	2012
	0.4%	0.8%	2.2%	2021
	1.9%	18.1%	58.8%	2023
	N/A
	12.9%	44.1%	81.8%	2022
	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2021
	0.5%	3.8%	21.9%	2022
	0.1%	2.4%	24.7%	2012
	0%	0%	0%	2017
	0.2%	1.0%	3.5%	2021
	0.8%	1.0%	1.7%	2021
	0.3%	2.4%	13.9%	2021
	0%	0.4%	8.2%	2010
	0.7%	0.9%	1.4%	2013
	0%	0.3%	10.6%	2021
	36.1%	70.1%	91.3%	2021
	0.7%	12.5%	62.2%	2021
	N/A
	1.7%	19.5%	68.9%	2019
	N/A
	0.2%	0.5%	1.2%	2016
	N/A
	7.1%	32.5%	70.5%	2018
	0%	0.1%	1.7%	2011
	27.6%	60.6%	88.9%	2016
	N/A
	0.1%	0.6%	8.4%	2015
	N/A
	1.0%	11.3%	49.3%	2019
	32.4%	54.7%	81.0%	2017
	0.3%	0.4%	1.2%	2021
	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2021
	0.4%	0.7%	2.1%	2021
	N/A
	N/A
	1.4%	9.8%	42.1%	2013
	N/A
	0%	0.3%	14.4%	2021
	80.7%	92.4%	98.2%	2012
	0%	0%	3.9%	2019
	1.2%	4.7%	21.8%	2022
	0.9%	6.1%	31.5%	2019
	2.7%	7.5%	19.0%	2019
	20.8%	56.1%	85.9%	2021
	0.3%	0.7%	0.8%	2020
	2.0%	19.6%	68.2%	2017
	2.0%	3.7%	12.2%	2021
	0.2%	2.4%	22.1%	2022
	N/A
	74.5%	88.6%	96.1%	2019
	5.4%	25.8%	68.0%	2019
	0.1%	1.8%	13.5%	2017
	70.1%	89.1%	97.3%	2019
	0%	0.1%	2.3%	2021
	15.6%	33.3%	57.3%	2015
	N/A
	50.6%	83.1%	96.3%	2021
	30.9%	63.5%	90.8%	2018
	3.9%	14.4%	42.1%	2014
	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2021
	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%	2019
	8.2%	40.0%	80.4%	2010
	1.7%	20.9%	61.7%	2012
	N/A
	N/A
	4.9%	39.8%	84.5%	2018
	1.3%	4.4%	12.9%	2023
	2.7%	9.5%	32.2%	2022
	3.0%	17.8%	55.3%	2021
	N/A
	39.7%	67.7%	90.2%	2009
	0.1%	0.2%	0.9%	2021
	N/A
	N/A
	0.2%	0.4%	1.7%	2021
	1.3%	5.6%	19.9%	2022
	0.5%	3.1%	20.5%	2016
	N/A
	N/A
	1.8%	3.0%	7.1%	2021
	0%	0.3%	4.1%	2020
	52.0%	78.0%	92.2%	2016
	N/A
	15.3%	49.7%	86.2%	2014
	9.9%	36.3%	75.6%	2021
	N/A
	26.6%	61.0%	88.5%	2012
	26.1%	64.3%	89.9%	2018
	3.4%	8.6%	27.5%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	1.2%	2.5%	7.5%	2021
	67.3%	86.5%	96.6%	2016
	15.7%	45.0%	79.7%	2017
	1.1%	4.2%	17.5%	2022
	0.1%	0.7%	2.4%	2021
	0%	0%	0.1%	2021
	0.6%	0.8%	1.4%	2021
	36.1%	58.0%	78.1%	2016
	N/A
	0.5%	1.2%	6.7%	2018
	24.8%	67.0%	96.0%	2022
	N/A
	30.8%	62.8%	88.8%	2022
	26.6%	58.8%	86.8%	2021
	0%	0.6%	12.2%	2021
	6.1%	25.7%	66.4%	2015
	43.1%	71.1%	91.3%	1998
	24.4%	69.2%	94.6%	2014
	0%	1.6%	21.5%	2021
	2.1%	9.4%	30.2%	1992
	0.3%	2.0%	16.2%	2021
	0.4%	1.4%	7.6%	2021
	3.6%	19.6%	56.6%	2010
	0%	0%	0.3%	2021
	44.9%	74.3%	92.3%	2018
	42.1%	71.8%	91.1%	2019
	0%	0.2%	7.1%	2020
	0.2%	0.8%	6.4%	2022
	0.2%	0.5%	1.0%	2021
	2.3%	5.0%	17.3%	2022
	N/A
	7.1%	15.5%	38.8%	2006
	N/A
	N/A
	1.0%	4.2%	19.7%	2022
	10.0%	34.9%	76.1%	2019
	1.2%	10.5%	43.3%	2013
	0.4%	4.2%	34.2%	2017
	19.8%	54.4%	85.4%	2014
	20.5%	40.0%	61.6%	2014
	64.3%	81.0%	93.2%	2022
	39.8%	64.5%	85.0%	2019

Percent of population living below national poverty line

The percentage of the population living below national poverty line (%) – poverty line deemed appropriate for a country by its authorities (however definitions of the poverty line vary considerably among nations). Sorting is by country code.


Country	data-sort-type="number" width="70pt"	World Bank^[9] ^[10]	Year
	N/A
	54.5%	2016
	32.3%	2018
	22%	2020
	N/A
	N/A
	39.2%	2022
	24.8%	2022
	N/A
	13.4%	2020
	14.8%	2021
	6%	2012
	64.9%	2013
	12.3%	2022
	38.5%	2019
	43.2%	2021
	18.7%	2022
	20.6%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	16.9%	2015
	4.8%	2020
	N/A
	N/A
	39%	2020
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	12.4%	2022
	16.1%	2015
	68.8%	2021
	N/A
	14.7%	2020
	N/A
	10.8%	2020
	0%	2020
	37.5%	2021
	37.5%	2014
	63.9%	2012
	40.9%	2011
	36.6%	2022
	42.4%	2013
	35.2%	2015
	25.5%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	13.9%	2021
	10.2%	2021
	14.8%	2021
	21.1%	2017
	N/A
	12.4%	2021
	23.9%	2021
	5.5%	2011
	25.2%	2022
	29.7%	2019
	69%	1993
	20.2%	2022
	22.5%	2022
	23.5%	2015
	12.2%	2022
	24.1%	2019
	15.6%	2021
	N/A
	41.2%	2013
	33.4%	2017
	18.6%	2017
	15.6%	2022
	23.4%	2016
	N/A
	43.7%	2018
	53.4%	2020
	47.7%	2018
	76.8%	2006
	18.8%	2021
	25.%	2018
	N/A
	59.3%	2014
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	48%	2019
	18%	2021
	58.5%	2012
	12.1%	2021
	9.4%	2023
	N/A
	21.9%	2011
	14%	2021
	N/A
	18.9%	2012
	8.8%	2017
	N/A
	20.1%	2021
	19.9%	2012
	15.7%	2018
	N/A
	5.2%	2022
	36.1%	2015
	33.3%	2021
	17.7%	2012
	21.9%	2019
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	18.3%	2018
	27.4%	2011
	50.9%	2016
	N/A
	25%	2016
	N/A
	14.3%	2019
	49.7%	2017
	20.9%	2021
	17.4%	2021
	22.5%	2021
	N/A
	N/A
	4.8%	2013
	N/A
	31.1%	2022
	70.7%	2012
	5.4%	2019
	36.3%	2022
	7.2%	2019
	21.8%	2019
	44.6%	2021
	16.7%	2021
	24.8%	2017
	21.2%	2020
	27.8%	2020
	N/A
	46.1%	2014
	31.8%	2019
	10.3%	2017
	50.7%	2019
	6.2%	2021
	17.4%	2015
	N/A
	40.8%	2018
	40.1%	2018
	24.9%	2016
	14.5%	2021
	12.2%	2021
	25.2%	2010
	16.8%	2012
	N/A
	N/A
	21.9%	2018
	21.5%	2019
	27.5%	2022
	18.1%	2021
	24.9%	2006
	39.9%	2009
	11.8%	2022
	N/A
	N/A
	16.4%	2021
	24.7%	2022
	29.2%	2016
	N/A
	N/A
	21.2%	2021
	11%	2021
	38.2%	2016
	N/A
	46.5%	2009
	46.7%	2011
	N/A
	12.7%	2012
	56.8%	2018
	26.6%	2022
	N/A
	54.4%	2022
	21.2%	2020
	82.3%	2016
	55.5%	2017
	N/A
	13.7%	2021
	12.7%	2022
	16.1%	2021
	58.9%	2016
	N/A
	25.3%	2018
	35.2%	2007
	N/A
	42.3%	2018
	45.5%	2018
	6.3%	2021
	22.5%	2022
	58%	1998
	41.8%	2014
	20.6%	2021
	N/A
	16.6%	2021
	14.4%	2020
	26.3%	2010
	26.4%	2018
	20.3%	2019
	1.6%	2020
	9.9%	2022
	N/A
	14.1%	2013
	N/A
	33.1%	2015
	N/A
	N/A
	4.8%	2020
	15.9%	2020
	21.9%	2018
	17.6%	2015
	48.6%	2014
	55.5%	2014
	60%	2022
	38.3%	2019

External links

World Poverty Clock World Poverty Clock from Global Data Lab
Global Distribution of Poverty Global poverty datasets and map collection
Population below poverty line: Countries Compared

Notes and References

Web site: Government of New Brunswick . Canada . 2010-10-26 . What is poverty? - Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation . 2024-08-16 . www2.gnb.ca . en.
Web site: What Is Poverty? Meaning, Causes, and How To Measure . 2024-07-11 . Investopedia . en.
Web site: Poverty headcount ratio at $3.65 a day (2017 PPP) (% of population) . 2023-10-28 . World Bank.
Web site: Poverty headcount ratio at $6.85 a day (2017 PPP) (% of population) . . 2023-10-28.
Web site: Fact Sheet: An Adjustment to Global Poverty Lines . The World Bank IBRD-IDA . . 2023-10-28.
"Web site: Inequality watch . 2014-01-10 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160430154404/http://www.inequalitywatch.eu/spip.php?article99 . 2016-04-30 . " Eurostat 2010
Web site: Libya Economy 2017, CIA World Factbook. www.theodora.com.
http://jafrianews.com/2013/08/05/one-third-of-the-saudi-arabias-population-lives-under-the-poverty-line-while-the-royal-elites-enjoy-the-wealth/ One third of the Saudi Arabia's population lives under the poverty line
Web site: Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) . The World Bank IBRD-IDA . 2024-08-10.
Web site: Share of population living below national poverty lines, 2000 to 2022 . . 2023-10-28.