Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia

South Asia: Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) was 0.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.5%
Change on year
down 28.6%
Rank
10th
of 14 groups
All-time high
16.6%
in 1981
All-time low
0.5%
in 2024
Years of data
34
1981–2024

Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia, 1981–2024

0510151981200220241981: 16.6 %1982: 15.8 %1983: 14.4 %1984: 14.2 %1985: 14 %1986: 13.9 %1987: 14 %1988: 13.9 %1989: 13.5 %1990: 13.1 %1991: 12.9 %1992: 12.5 %1993: 12.1 %1994: 11.8 %1995: 11.6 %1996: 11.5 %2002: 11.1 %2003: 10.9 %2004: 10.7 %2005: 10.1 %2006: 9.2 %2007: 8.4 %2008: 8 %2009: 7.4 %2010: 6.2 %2011: 5.4 %2012: 4.8 %2013: 4.2 %2014: 3.6 %2020: 1.5 %2021: 1.2 %2022: 0.9 %2023: 0.7 %2024: 0.5 %

Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia stood at 0.5%. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.

That represents a change of down 28.6% on the previous year and down 86.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia peaked at 16.6% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2024.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia, year by year

Annual values for Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (%) in South Asia, 1981 to 2024.
Year % Change
1981 16.6%
1982 15.8% -4.8%
1983 14.4% -8.9%
1984 14.2% -1.4%
1985 14.0% -1.4%
1986 13.9% -0.7%
1987 14.0% +0.7%
1988 13.9% -0.7%
1989 13.5% -2.9%
1990 13.1% -3.0%
1991 12.9% -1.5%
1992 12.5% -3.1%
1993 12.1% -3.2%
1994 11.8% -2.5%
1995 11.6% -1.7%
1996 11.5% -0.9%
2002 11.1% -3.5%
2003 10.9% -1.8%
2004 10.7% -1.8%
2005 10.1% -5.6%
2006 9.2% -8.9%
2007 8.4% -8.7%
2008 8.0% -4.8%
2009 7.4% -7.5%
2010 6.2% -16.2%
2011 5.4% -12.9%
2012 4.8% -11.1%
2013 4.2% -12.5%
2014 3.6% -14.3%
2020 1.5% -58.3%
2021 1.2% -20.0%
2022 0.9% -25.0%
2023 0.7% -22.2%
2024 0.5% -28.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 14.5% 13.5% 16.6% 9
1990s 12.2% 11.5% 13.1% 7
2000s 9.5% 7.4% 11.1% 8
2010s 4.8% 3.6% 6.2% 5
2020s 1.0% 0.5% 1.5% 5

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 7 Niger 18.6% compare
  2. 8 Tanzania 16.7% compare
  3. 9 Ghana 15.8% compare
  4. 10 Kenya 13.6% compare
  5. 11 Nigeria 13.0% compare
  6. 12 Burkina Faso 12.5% compare
  7. 13 Guinea-Bissau 11.5% compare

See the full ranking of 137 places →

More poverty & inequality data for South Asia

All data for South Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia?
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia was 0.5% in 2024, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
What is the highest poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 16.6% in 1981.
What is the lowest poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2024.
How does South Asia rank for poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp)?
South Asia ranks 10th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
Is poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 86.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Asia data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-gap-at-3-00-a-day-2021-ppp-percent/south-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (%)
Unit
%
Source
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
137 places, 2,872 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $3.00 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.