World Poverty Rate 1981-2023
Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.
- World poverty rate for 2019 was 46.90%, a 0.8% decline from 2018.
- World poverty rate for 2018 was 47.70%, a 1.4% decline from 2017.
- World poverty rate for 2017 was 49.10%, a 1.1% decline from 2016.
- World poverty rate for 2016 was 50.20%, a 0.9% decline from 2015.
World Poverty Rate - Historical Data |
Year |
% Under US $5.50 Per Day |
Change |
2019 |
46.90% |
-0.80% |
2018 |
47.70% |
-1.40% |
2017 |
49.10% |
-1.10% |
2016 |
50.20% |
-0.90% |
2015 |
51.10% |
-1.00% |
2014 |
52.10% |
-1.20% |
2013 |
53.30% |
-1.70% |
2012 |
55.00% |
-1.30% |
2011 |
56.30% |
-1.50% |
2010 |
57.80% |
-1.70% |
2009 |
59.50% |
-0.80% |
2008 |
60.30% |
-1.10% |
2007 |
61.40% |
-1.50% |
2006 |
62.90% |
-1.20% |
2005 |
64.10% |
-1.50% |
2004 |
65.60% |
-1.30% |
2003 |
66.90% |
-0.50% |
2002 |
67.40% |
-0.90% |
2001 |
68.30% |
-0.60% |
2000 |
68.90% |
-0.90% |
1999 |
69.80% |
0.50% |
1998 |
69.30% |
-0.20% |
1997 |
69.50% |
-0.50% |
1996 |
70.00% |
0.10% |
1995 |
69.90% |
-0.60% |
1994 |
70.50% |
0.00% |
1993 |
70.50% |
0.60% |
1992 |
69.90% |
0.50% |
1991 |
69.40% |
0.50% |
1990 |
68.90% |
0.10% |
1989 |
68.80% |
0.10% |
1988 |
68.70% |
0.10% |
1987 |
68.60% |
0.30% |
1986 |
68.30% |
-0.50% |
1985 |
68.80% |
-0.10% |
1984 |
68.90% |
0.10% |
1983 |
68.80% |
0.30% |
1982 |
68.50% |
0.30% |
1981 |
68.20% |
0.30% |