List of countries by percentage of population living in poverty

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Map of world poverty by country, showing percentage of population living on less than $1 per day. Based on 2007/2008 UN Human Development Report. Data is missing for several nations.
Map of world poverty by country, showing percentage of population living on less than $1 per day. Based on 2007/2008 UN Human Development Report. Data is missing for several nations.
Map of world poverty by country, showing percentage of population living below the national poverty line. Based on data from the CIA World Factbook. Not all figures are up to date.
Map of world poverty by country, showing percentage of population living below the national poverty line. Based on data from the CIA World Factbook. Not all figures are up to date.


These are lists of countries of the world by percentage of population living in poverty. "Poverty" defined as an economic condition of lacking both money and basic necessities needed to successfully live, such as food, water, education, healthcare, and shelter. There are many working definitions of "poverty," with considerable debate on how to best define the term. 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 the poorest population living under 2 and 1 dollar a day. The sourced data refers to the most recent year available during the period 1990-2005.
  • 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 may vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations. Thus, the numbers are not strictly comparable among countries.

Only countries for which sourced data is available are listed.

Population living under 2 and
1 dollar (PPP) a day (%)
Population living below national poverty line (%)
Country < $2[1] < $1[2]
 Albania 10.0 N/A
 Algeria 15.1 N/A
 Argentina 17.4 6.6
 Armenia 31.1 N/A
 Azerbaijan 33.4 3.7
 Bangladesh 84.0 41.3
 Benin 73.7 30.9
 Bolivia 42.2 23.2
 Botswana 55.5 28.0
 Brazil 21.2 7.5
 Bulgaria 6.1 N/A
 Burkina Faso 71.8 27.2
 Burundi 87.6 54.6
 Cambodia 77.7 34.1
 Cameroon 50.6 17.1
 Central African Republic 84.0 66.6
 Chile 5.6 N/A
 People's Republic of China 34.9 9.9
 Colombia 17.8 7.0
 Costa Rica 9.8 3.3
 Côte d'Ivoire 48.8 14.8
 Dominican Republic 16.2 2.8
 Ecuador 40.8 17.7
 Egypt 43.9 3.1
 El Salvador 40.6 19.0
 Estonia 7.5 N/A
 Ethiopia 77.8 23.0
 The Gambia 82.9 59.3
 Georgia 25.3 6.5
 Ghana 78.5 44.8
 Guatemala 31.9 13.5
 Haiti 78.0 53.9
 Honduras 35.7 14.9
 India 74 32
 Indonesia 52.4 7.5
 Iran 7.3 N/A
 Jamaica 14.4 N/A
 Jordan 7.0 N/A
 Kazakhstan 16.0 N/A
 Kenya 58.3 22.8
 Kyrgyzstan 21.4 N/A
 Laos 74.1 27.0
 Latvia 4.7 N/A
 Lesotho 56.1 36.4
 Lithuania 7.8 N/A
 Madagascar 85.1 61.0
 Malawi 62.9 20.8
 Malaysia 9.3 N/A
 Mali 72.1 36.1
 Mauritania 63.1 25.9
 Mexico 11.6 3.0
 Moldova 20.8 N/A
 Mongolia 44.6 10.8
 Morocco 14.3 N/A
 Mozambique 74.1 36.2
 Namibia 55.8 34.9
 Nepal 68.5 24.1
 Nicaragua 79.9 45.1
 Niger 85.8 60.6
 Nigeria 92.4 70.8
 Pakistan 73.6 17.0
 Panama 18.0 7.4
 Paraguay 29.8 13.6
 Peru 30.6 10.5
 Philippines 43.0 14.8
 Romania 12.9 N/A
 Russia 12.1 N/A
 Rwanda 87.8 60.3
 Senegal 56.2 17.0
 Sierra Leone 74.5 57.0
 Slovakia 2.9 N/A
 South Africa 34.1 10.7
 Sri Lanka 41.6 5.6
 Swaziland 77.8 47.7
 Tajikistan 42.8 7.4
 Tanzania 89.9 57.8
 Thailand 25.2 N/A
 Trinidad and Tobago 39.0 12.4
 Tunisia 6.6 N/A
 Turkey 18.7 3.4
 Ukraine 4.9 N/A
 Uruguay 5.7 N/A
 Venezuela 40.1 18.5
 Yemen 45.2 15.7
 Zambia 87.2 63.8
 Zimbabwe 83.0 56.1
Country UNDP[3] CIA[4] Year Other Year
 Afghanistan N/A 53 2003
 Albania 25.4 25 2004 est.
 Algeria 22.6 25 2005 est.
 Angola N/A 70 2003 est.
 Anguilla N/A 23 2002
 Argentina N/A 23.4 Jan.-Jun. 2007 31.6 2008
 Armenia 50.9 26.5 2004 est.
 Austria N/A 5.9 2004
 Azerbaijan 49.6 24 2005 est.
 The Bahamas N/A 9.3 2004
 Bangladesh 49.8 45 2004 est.
 Belarus 41.9 27.1 2003 est.
 Belgium N/A 15.2 2007 est.
 Belize N/A 33.5 2002 est.
 Benin 29 37.4 2007 est.
 Bermuda N/A 19 2000
 Bhutan N/A 31.7 2003
 Bolivia 62.7 60 2006 est. 38.6 2004[5][broken footnote]
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 19.5 25 2004 est.
 Botswana N/A 30.3 2003
 Brazil 21.5 33 2005 24.1 2008
 Bulgaria 12.8 14.1 2003 est.
 Burkina Faso 46.4 46.4 2003
 Burundi 36.4 68 2002 est.
 Cambodia 35 35 2004
 Cameroon 40.2 48 2000 est.
 Canada N/A 10.8 2005[6] 4.9 2004[7]
 Cape Verde N/A 30 2000
 Chad 64 80 2001 est.
 Chile 17 18.2 2005 13.7 2006[8]
 People's Republic of China 4.6 8 2006 est.[9]
 Colombia 64 49.2 2005 13 2006[10]
 Comoros N/A 60 2002 est.
 Costa Rica 22 16 2006 est. 19 2006[8]
 Côte d'Ivoire N/A 42 2006 est.
 Croatia N/A 11 2003
 Djibouti N/A 42 2007 est.
 Dominica N/A 30 2002 est.
 Dominican Republic 42.2 42.2 2004 44.5 2006[8]
 Ecuador 46 38.3 2006 43 2006[8]
 Egypt 16.7 20 2005 est.
 El Salvador 37.2 30.7 2006 est. 47.5 2004[8]
 Eritrea 53 50 2004 est.
 Estonia 8.9 5 2003
 Ethiopia 44.2 38.7 FY05/06 est.
 Fiji N/A 25.5 FY90/91
 France N/A 6.2 2004
 The Gambia 57.6 N/A
 Gaza Strip N/A 80 2007 est.
 Georgia 54.5 31 2006
 Germany N/A 11 2001 est.
 Ghana 39.5 28.5 2007 est.
 Grenada N/A 32 2000
 Guam N/A 23 2001 est.
 Guatemala 56.2 56.2 2004 est. 29 2006[11]
 Guinea 40 47 2006 est.
 Haiti 65 80 2003 est.
 Honduras 50.7 50.7 2004 71.5 2006[8]
 Hungary 17.3 8.6 1993 est.
 India 8.6 5.2 2002 est.
 Indonesia 27.1 17.8 2006
 Iran N/A 18 2007 est.
 Ireland N/A 7 2005 est. 6.8 2004 est.[12]
 Israel N/A 21.6 2005[13]
 Jamaica 18.7 14.8 2003 est.
 Jordan 14.2 14.2 2002
 Kazakhstan 34.6 13.8 2007
 Kenya 52 50 2000 est.
 South Korea N/A 15 2003 est.
 Kosovo N/A 37 2007 est.
 Kyrgyzstan 41 40 2004 est.
 Laos 38.6 30.7 2005 est.
 Lebanon N/A 28 1999 est.
 Lesotho N/A 49 1999
 Liberia N/A 80 2000 est.
 Libya N/A 7.4 2005 est.
 Lithuania N/A 4 2003
 Republic of Macedonia 21.7 30 2005 29.8 2006[14]
 Madagascar 71.3 50 2004 est.
 Malawi 65.3 53 2004
 Malaysia 15.5 5.1 2002 est.
 Maldives N/A 21 2004
 Mali 63.8 36.1 2005 est.
 Mauritania 46.3 40 2004 est.
 Mauritius N/A 8 2006 est.
 Mexico 17.6 13.8 2006[15] 2006[8]
 Micronesia N/A 26.7 2000
 Moldova 48.5 29.5 2005
 Mongolia 36.1 36.1 2004
 Montenegro N/A 7 2007 est.
 Morocco 19 15 2007 est.
 Mozambique 69.4 70 2001 est.
 Myanmar N/A 32.7 2007 est.
 Nepal 30.9 30.9 2004
 Netherlands N/A 10.5 2005
 Nicaragua 47.9 48 2005 69.3 2001[8]
 Niger 63 63 1993 est.
 Nigeria 34.1 70 2007 est.
 Norway N/A N/A N/A 4.3 2007[16]
 Pakistan 62.6 24 FY05/06 est.
 Panama 37.3 37 1999 est. 20 2007[17]
 Papua New Guinea 37.5 37 2002 est.
 Paraguay 21.8 32 2005 est. 60.5 2005[8]
 Peru 44.5 44.5 2006 39.9 2008[8]
 Philippines 36.8 30 2003 est.
 Poland 23.8 17 2003 est.
 Romania 21.5 25 2005 est.
 Russia 30.9 15.8 Nov. 2007 14 Mar. 2008[18]
 Rwanda 60.3 60 2001 est.
 São Tomé and Príncipe N/A 54 2004 est.
 Senegal 33.4 54 2001 est.
 Serbia N/A 6.5 2007 est.
 Sierra Leone 70.2 70.2 2004
 Slovakia N/A 21 2002
 Slovenia N/A 12.9 2004
 South Africa N/A 50 2000 est.
 Spain N/A 19.8 2005
 Sri Lanka 25 22 2002 est.
 Sudan N/A 40 2004 est.
 Suriname N/A 70 2002 est.
 Swaziland N/A 69 2006
 Syria N/A 11.9 2006 est.
 Republic of China (Taiwan) N/A 0.95 2007 est.
 Tajikistan N/A 60 2007 est.
 Tanzania 35.7 36 2002 est.
 Thailand 13.6 10 2004 est.
 Timor-Leste N/A 42 2003 est.
 Togo 32.3 32 1989 est.
 Tonga N/A 24 FY03/04
 Trinidad and Tobago 21 17 2007 est.
 Tunisia 7.6 7.4 2005 est. 3.8 2005[19]
 Turkey 27 20 2002 20.5 2005[20]
 Turkmenistan N/A 30 2004 est.
 Uganda 37.7 35 2001 est.
 Ukraine 19.5 37.7 2003
 United Arab Emirates N/A 19.5 2003
 United Kingdom N/A 14 2006 est.
 United States N/A 12 2004 est. 12.6 2005[21]
 Uruguay N/A 27.37 2006[22]
 Uzbekistan 27.5 33 2004 est.
 Venezuela 31.3 37.9 end 2005 est. 12.8 2006[23]
 Vietnam 28.9 14.75 2007 est.
 U.S. Virgin Islands N/A 28.9 2002
 West Bank N/A 46 2007 est.
 Yemen 41.8 45.2 2003
 Zambia 68 86 1993
 Zimbabwe 34.9 68 2004

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Data refer to the most recent year available during 1990-2005. Human and income poverty: developing countries / Population living below $2 a day (%), Human Development Report 2007/08, UNDP, accessed on February 3, 2008.
  2. ^ Data refer to the most recent year available during 1990-2005. Human and income poverty: developing countries / Population living below $1 a day (%), Human Development Report 2007/08, UNDP, accessed on February 3, 2008.
  3. ^ Data refer to the most recent year available during 1990-2004. Human and income poverty: developing countries / Population living below the national poverty line (%), Human Development Report 2007/08, UNDP, accessed on February 3, 2008.
  4. ^ Population below poverty line, The World Factbook, CIA, updated on March 20, 2008.
  5. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Economy_of_Bolivia
  6. ^ This figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO). a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line.
  7. ^ Basic Needs Poverty Measure, an absolute poverty measure calculated by the Fraser Institute. (See related article, Poverty in Canada.)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Anuario estadístico de América Latina y el Caribe, 2007." ECLAC, April 2008.
  9. ^ 21.5 million rural population live below the official "absolute poverty" line (approximately $90 per year); and an additional 35.5 million rural population above that but below the official "low income" line (approximately $125 per year).
  10. ^ Microsoft PowerPoint - Presentación cifras pobreza 2005
  11. ^ Poverty, hunger and food security in Central America and Panama
  12. ^ Central Statistics Office Ireland.
  13. ^ Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day.
  14. ^ 4.1.5.56
  15. ^ Food-based poverty. Asset based poverty amounted to more than 40%.
  16. ^ Poverty data: Norway. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2007, US Department of State; Population: Norway - CIA The World Factbook.
  17. ^ G
  18. ^ Russia’s economy under Vladimir Putin: achievements and failures
  19. ^ Tunisia-human development
  20. ^ Complete poverty (food+nonfood) Turkish Statistical Institute.
  21. ^ U.S. Census Bureau.
  22. ^ Percentage of households.
  23. ^ [PEN-L] ECLAC: Venezuela's poverty & extreme poverty 2002-2006: down 18

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