Distribution of population between different poverty lines in India
India: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 37.19 million people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in India, 1977–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
India recorded 37.19 million people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 50.6% on the previous year and down 89.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in India peaked at 531.71 million people in 2004 and was at its lowest, 37.19 million people, in 2023.
India ranks 4th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in India, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 386.87 million people | — |
| 1983 | 375.06 million people | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 423.66 million people | +13.0% |
| 1993 | 442.37 million people | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 531.71 million people | +20.2% |
| 2009 | 426.84 million people | -19.7% |
| 2011 | 344.47 million people | -19.3% |
| 2022 | 75.24 million people | -78.2% |
| 2023 | 37.19 million people | -50.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 37.19 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.70 million people, 21.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- India's 37.19 million people is above the median for South Asia, which is 723,708 people, 51.4× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 386.87 million people | 386.87 million people | 386.87 million people | 1 |
| 1980s | 399.36 million people | 375.06 million people | 423.66 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 442.37 million people | 442.37 million people | 442.37 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 479.27 million people | 426.84 million people | 531.71 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 344.47 million people | 344.47 million people | 344.47 million people | 1 |
| 2020s | 56.21 million people | 37.19 million people | 75.24 million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More poverty & inequality data for India
- 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 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 India?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in India was 37.19 million people in 2023, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 531.71 million people in 2004.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.19 million people in 2023.
- How does India rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- India ranks 4th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 89.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.