China vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median
China
12.0%
in 2022
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
11.7%
in 2021
China rank
53rd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
56th
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median over time
- China
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
China currently reports 12.0% against 11.7% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 0.3%.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 22 shared years of data; in 1981 it was China ahead.
China ranks 53rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 56th of 120 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 4 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.6% | 9.2% | 0.4% | China |
| 1990s | 11.1% | 12.9% | 1.8% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 17.3% | 12.4% | 4.8% | China |
| 2010s | 15.8% | 11.9% | 3.9% | China |
| 2020s | 11.6% | 11.6% | 0.0% | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median, China or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- China, at 12.0% against 11.7% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2022.
- What is the difference in relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median between China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 0.3%, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 22 years are reported by both, from 1981 to 2021.
- How do China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median?
- China ranks 53rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 56th of 120 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 50% of the median.