Number of people living in extreme poverty in Syria
Syria: Number of people living in extreme poverty was 18.43 million people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Syria, 1996–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Syria recorded 18.43 million people for number of people living in extreme poverty in 2022.
That represents a change of down 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty in Syria peaked at 21.98 million people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 15.14 million people, in 1996.
Syria ranks 47th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Syria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 15.14 million people | — |
| 2003 | 18.03 million people | +19.1% |
| 2006 | 20.67 million people | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 21.98 million people | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 18.43 million people | -16.2% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 18.43 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.33 million people, 2.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Syria's 18.43 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15.21 million people, 1.2× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.14 million people | 15.14 million people | 15.14 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 20.23 million people | 18.03 million people | 21.98 million people | 3 |
| 2020s | 18.43 million people | 18.43 million people | 18.43 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More poverty & inequality data for Syria
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.71 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,607 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -11.45 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 10.54 (2008)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 10.5% (2008)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2008)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in extreme poverty in Syria?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty in Syria was 18.43 million people in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 21.98 million people in 2009.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.14 million people in 1996.
- How does Syria rank for number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Syria ranks 47th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $3 per day.