Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia

South Asia: Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) was 3.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
3.3%
Change on year
down 15.4%
Rank
8th
of 14 groups
All-time high
31.9%
in 1981
All-time low
3.3%
in 2024
Years of data
34
1981–2024

Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia, 1981–2024

01020301981200220241981: 31.9 %1982: 31 %1983: 29.1 %1984: 29 %1985: 28.8 %1986: 28.8 %1987: 29 %1988: 28.8 %1989: 28.4 %1990: 28 %1991: 27.8 %1992: 27.4 %1993: 26.9 %1994: 26.5 %1995: 26.2 %1996: 26.1 %2002: 25.5 %2003: 25.3 %2004: 24.9 %2005: 24.1 %2006: 22.8 %2007: 21.6 %2008: 20.9 %2009: 19.9 %2010: 17.9 %2011: 16.3 %2012: 15.1 %2013: 13.9 %2014: 12.5 %2020: 6.9 %2021: 6 %2022: 4.9 %2023: 3.9 %2024: 3.3 %

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

The most recent figure for poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia is 3.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.

The figure is down 15.4% on the previous year and down 73.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia peaked at 31.9% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2024.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia, year by year

Annual values for Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (%) in South Asia, 1981 to 2024.
Year % Change
1981 31.9%
1982 31.0% -2.8%
1983 29.1% -6.1%
1984 29.0% -0.3%
1985 28.8% -0.7%
1986 28.8% +0.0%
1987 29.0% +0.7%
1988 28.8% -0.7%
1989 28.4% -1.4%
1990 28.0% -1.4%
1991 27.8% -0.7%
1992 27.4% -1.4%
1993 26.9% -1.8%
1994 26.5% -1.5%
1995 26.2% -1.1%
1996 26.1% -0.4%
2002 25.5% -2.3%
2003 25.3% -0.8%
2004 24.9% -1.6%
2005 24.1% -3.2%
2006 22.8% -5.4%
2007 21.6% -5.3%
2008 20.9% -3.2%
2009 19.9% -4.8%
2010 17.9% -10.1%
2011 16.3% -8.9%
2012 15.1% -7.4%
2013 13.9% -7.9%
2014 12.5% -10.1%
2020 6.9% -44.8%
2021 6.0% -13.0%
2022 4.9% -18.3%
2023 3.9% -20.4%
2024 3.3% -15.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 29.4% 28.4% 31.9% 9
1990s 27.0% 26.1% 28.0% 7
2000s 23.1% 19.9% 25.5% 8
2010s 15.1% 12.5% 17.9% 5
2020s 5.0% 3.3% 6.9% 5

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 5 Madagascar 41.9% compare
  2. 6 Uganda 36.3% compare
  3. 7 Niger 33.8% compare
  4. 8 Tanzania 29.6% compare
  5. 9 Kenya 25.9% compare
  6. 10 Ghana 25.0% compare
  7. 11 Nigeria 24.6% 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 $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia?
Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia was 3.3% 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 $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 31.9% in 1981.
What is the lowest poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2024.
How does South Asia rank for poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
South Asia ranks 8th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
Is poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 73.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty gap at $4.20 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-4-20-a-day-2021-ppp-percent/south-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty gap at $4.20 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, 2,860 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $4.20 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.