Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data was 267,936 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom, 1968–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 267,936 people for number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data in 2021.
The figure is down 19.7% on the previous year and up 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom peaked at 333,720 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1973.
United Kingdom ranks 57th 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.
Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 110,423 people | — |
| 1969 | 110,884 people | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 55,663 people | -49.8% |
| 1971 | 55,896 people | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 112,172 people | +100.7% |
| 1973 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1974 | 112,460 people | — |
| 1975 | 112,452 people | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 56,212 people | -50.0% |
| 1977 | 112,387 people | +99.9% |
| 1978 | 56,197 people | -50.0% |
| 1979 | 56,247 people | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 56,314 people | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 56,334 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 56,314 people | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 56,333 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 56,422 people | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 56,550 people | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 170,044 people | +200.7% |
| 1987 | 56,802 people | -66.6% |
| 1988 | 56,928 people | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 114,153 people | +100.5% |
| 1990 | 57,248 people | -49.8% |
| 1991 | 57,425 people | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 57,580 people | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 115,437 people | +100.5% |
| 1994 | 231,463 people | +100.5% |
| 1995 | 174,057 people | -24.8% |
| 1996 | 116,334 people | -33.2% |
| 1997 | 116,634 people | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 175,461 people | +50.4% |
| 1999 | 176,047 people | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 176,678 people | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 177,359 people | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 178,111 people | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 178,943 people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 179,964 people | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 181,204 people | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 182,540 people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 183,967 people | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 247,228 people | +34.4% |
| 2009 | 249,105 people | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 188,299 people | -24.4% |
| 2011 | 189,776 people | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 254,844 people | +34.3% |
| 2013 | 128,278 people | -49.7% |
| 2014 | 258,480 people | +101.5% |
| 2015 | 195,264 people | -24.5% |
| 2016 | 262,428 people | +34.4% |
| 2017 | 263,864 people | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 265,156 people | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 266,524 people | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 333,720 people | +25.2% |
| 2021 | 267,936 people | -19.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 267,936 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 41,302 people, 6.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 267,936 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,791 people, 11.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +200.7% | 56,550 people | 170,044 people |
| 2014 | +101.5% | 128,278 people | 258,480 people |
| 1973 | -100.0% | 112,172 people | 0 people |
| 1972 | +100.7% | 55,896 people | 112,172 people |
| 1989 | +100.5% | 56,928 people | 114,153 people |
| 1994 | +100.5% | 115,437 people | 231,463 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 110,654 people | 110,423 people | 110,884 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 72,969 people | 0 people | 112,460 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 73,619 people | 56,314 people | 170,044 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 127,769 people | 57,248 people | 231,463 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 193,510 people | 176,678 people | 249,105 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 227,291 people | 128,278 people | 266,524 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 300,828 people | 267,936 people | 333,720 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 6 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 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,138 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 -7.54 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.91 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data in United Kingdom was 267,936 people in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 333,720 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1973.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data?
- United Kingdom ranks 57th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty: september 2024 data vs. latest data rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data. 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.