World Poverty Rate 1981-2021
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 2017 was 43.50%, a 1.3% decline from 2016.
- World poverty rate for 2016 was 44.80%, a 1.2% decline from 2015.
- World poverty rate for 2015 was 46.00%, a 1.3% decline from 2014.
- World poverty rate for 2014 was 47.30%, a 1.3% decline from 2013.
| World Poverty Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
% Under US $5.50 Per Day |
Change |
| 2017 |
43.50% |
-1.30% |
| 2016 |
44.80% |
-1.20% |
| 2015 |
46.00% |
-1.30% |
| 2014 |
47.30% |
-1.30% |
| 2013 |
48.60% |
-2.10% |
| 2012 |
50.70% |
-1.40% |
| 2011 |
52.10% |
-1.70% |
| 2010 |
53.80% |
-1.80% |
| 2009 |
55.60% |
-0.90% |
| 2008 |
56.50% |
-1.10% |
| 2007 |
57.60% |
-1.60% |
| 2006 |
59.20% |
-1.20% |
| 2005 |
60.40% |
-1.70% |
| 2004 |
62.10% |
-1.40% |
| 2003 |
63.50% |
-0.60% |
| 2002 |
64.10% |
-1.10% |
| 2001 |
65.20% |
-0.70% |
| 2000 |
65.90% |
-1.10% |
| 1999 |
67.00% |
0.20% |
| 1998 |
66.80% |
-0.10% |
| 1997 |
66.90% |
-0.50% |
| 1996 |
67.40% |
-0.10% |
| 1995 |
67.50% |
-0.80% |
| 1994 |
68.30% |
0.10% |
| 1993 |
68.20% |
0.40% |
| 1992 |
67.80% |
0.30% |
| 1991 |
67.50% |
0.40% |
| 1990 |
67.10% |
0.20% |
| 1989 |
66.90% |
0.00% |
| 1988 |
66.90% |
0.00% |
| 1987 |
66.90% |
0.40% |
| 1986 |
66.50% |
-0.50% |
| 1985 |
67.00% |
-0.20% |
| 1984 |
67.20% |
0.00% |
| 1983 |
67.20% |
0.40% |
| 1982 |
66.80% |
0.30% |
| 1981 |
66.50% |
0.30% |
