Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 4.47 million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Ethiopia, 1995–2021
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 Ethiopia is 4.47 million people, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Ethiopia peaked at 6.87 million people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 905,157 people, in 1999.
Ethiopia ranks 67th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1.48 million people | — |
| 1999 | 905,157 people | -38.8% |
| 2004 | 2.06 million people | +127.8% |
| 2010 | 3.84 million people | +86.4% |
| 2015 | 6.87 million people | +78.7% |
| 2021 | 4.47 million people | -34.9% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 4.47 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 936,910 people, 4.8× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 4.47 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.29 million people, 3.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.19 million people | 905,157 people | 1.48 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.06 million people | 2.06 million people | 2.06 million people | 1 |
| 2010s | 5.36 million people | 3.84 million people | 6.87 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 4.47 million people | 4.47 million people | 4.47 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More poverty & inequality data for Ethiopia
- 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 (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 3.99 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,632 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 -0.9299 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via -50 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.497 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 10.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Ethiopia?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Ethiopia was 4.47 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.87 million people in 2015.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 905,157 people in 1999.
- How does Ethiopia rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Ethiopia ranks 67th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 above $10 per day.