Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Jamaica
Jamaica: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 234,618 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Jamaica, 1988–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 234,618 people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 42.6% on the previous year and up 42.6% over five years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Jamaica peaked at 234,618 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,136 people, in 1993.
Jamaica ranks 78th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 40,652 people | — |
| 1990 | 33,617 people | -17.3% |
| 1993 | 3,136 people | -90.7% |
| 1996 | 41,114 people | +1211.0% |
| 1999 | 95,677 people | +132.7% |
| 2002 | 140,304 people | +46.6% |
| 2004 | 134,542 people | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 164,534 people | +22.3% |
| 2021 | 234,618 people | +42.6% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 234,618 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 626,662 people, 37% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 234,618 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.09 million people, 22% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40,652 people | 40,652 people | 40,652 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 43,386 people | 3,136 people | 95,677 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 137,423 people | 134,542 people | 140,304 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 164,534 people | 164,534 people | 164,534 people | 1 |
| 2020s | 234,618 people | 234,618 people | 234,618 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More poverty & inequality data for Jamaica
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 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 (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.36 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,140 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.77 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Jamaica?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Jamaica was 234,618 people in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 234,618 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,136 people in 1993.
- How does Jamaica rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Jamaica ranks 78th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Where does this Jamaica 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 Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $40 per day.