Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt
Egypt: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 1.54 million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt, 1990–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2021, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt stood at 1.54 million people.
The figure is down 28.3% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt peaked at 4.23 million people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1999.
Egypt ranks 38th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.23 million people | — |
| 1995 | 2.72 million people | -35.7% |
| 1999 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 3.31 million people | — |
| 2008 | 3.22 million people | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 1.39 million people | -56.8% |
| 2012 | 1.17 million people | -15.6% |
| 2015 | 1.20 million people | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 3.27 million people | +172.0% |
| 2019 | 2.15 million people | -34.3% |
| 2021 | 1.54 million people | -28.3% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 1.54 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.70 million people, 91% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 1.54 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 678,382 people, 2.3× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.32 million people | 0 people | 4.23 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 3.26 million people | 3.22 million people | 3.31 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.84 million people | 1.17 million people | 3.27 million people | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.54 million people | 1.54 million people | 1.54 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More poverty & inequality data for Egypt
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 3 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 2.75 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,402 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 4.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via -25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.398 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 8.0% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Egypt was 1.54 million 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 4.23 million people in 1990.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1999.
- How does Egypt rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Egypt ranks 38th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Egypt 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 — 11 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 below $3 per day.