Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan
Pakistan: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 20.33 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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
Pakistan recorded 20.33 million people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2024. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
That represents a change of up 64.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan peaked at 20.33 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.03 million people, in 1987.
Pakistan ranks 31st 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1.03 million people | — |
| 1990 | 1.13 million people | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 3.59 million people | +219.1% |
| 1998 | 4.96 million people | +38.0% |
| 2001 | 2.80 million people | -43.6% |
| 2004 | 6.62 million people | +136.6% |
| 2005 | 6.45 million people | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 7.68 million people | +19.1% |
| 2010 | 9.04 million people | +17.7% |
| 2011 | 10.85 million people | +20.1% |
| 2013 | 12.36 million people | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 17.30 million people | +40.0% |
| 2018 | 16.22 million people | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 20.33 million people | +25.3% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 20.33 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.74 million people, 5.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 20.33 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8.59 million people, 2.4× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +219.1% | 1.13 million people | 3.59 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.03 million people | 1.03 million people | 1.03 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.23 million people | 1.13 million people | 4.96 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 5.89 million people | 2.80 million people | 7.68 million people | 4 |
| 2010s | 13.15 million people | 9.04 million people | 17.30 million people | 5 |
| 2020s | 20.33 million people | 20.33 million people | 20.33 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 20.33 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 20.33 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.03 million people in 1987.
- How does Pakistan rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Pakistan ranks 31st 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 64.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 above $10 per day.