Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan
Pakistan: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 58.23 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan, 1987–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan is 58.23 million people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan peaked at 93.85 million people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 36.99 million people, in 2015.
Pakistan ranks 2nd of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 84.76 million people | — |
| 1990 | 93.85 million people | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 63.69 million people | -32.1% |
| 1998 | 74.69 million people | +17.3% |
| 2001 | 90.69 million people | +21.4% |
| 2004 | 70.85 million people | -21.9% |
| 2005 | 72.46 million people | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 65.20 million people | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 53.71 million people | -17.6% |
| 2011 | 53.35 million people | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 45.18 million people | -15.3% |
| 2015 | 36.99 million people | -18.1% |
| 2018 | 37.80 million people | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 58.23 million people | +54.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 58.23 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.70 million people, 34.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 58.23 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 678,382 people, 85.8× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 84.76 million people | 84.76 million people | 84.76 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 77.41 million people | 63.69 million people | 93.85 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 74.80 million people | 65.20 million people | 90.69 million people | 4 |
| 2010s | 45.41 million people | 36.99 million people | 53.71 million people | 5 |
| 2020s | 58.23 million people | 58.23 million people | 58.23 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More poverty & inequality data for Pakistan
- 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 3.6 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,634 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 4.94 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.36 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.4% (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 Pakistan?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan was 58.23 million people in 2024, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 93.85 million people in 1990.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.99 million people in 2015.
- How does Pakistan rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Pakistan ranks 2nd out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 14 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.