World Poverty Rate 1981-2024
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% |
