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

South Asia: Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) was 3.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
3.8%
Change on year
down 19.1%
Rank
9th
of 14 groups
All-time high
55.9%
in 1981
All-time low
3.8%
in 2024
Years of data
34
1981–2024

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

02040601981200220241981: 55.9 % of population1982: 54.2 % of population1983: 50.9 % of population1984: 50.7 % of population1985: 50.6 % of population1986: 50.7 % of population1987: 51.3 % of population1988: 51.1 % of population1989: 50.4 % of population1990: 49.7 % of population1991: 49.6 % of population1992: 48.9 % of population1993: 48.1 % of population1994: 47.4 % of population1995: 47.1 % of population1996: 46.8 % of population2002: 46 % of population2003: 45.6 % of population2004: 45 % of population2005: 43.3 % of population2006: 40.7 % of population2007: 38.1 % of population2008: 36.8 % of population2009: 34.6 % of population2010: 30.4 % of population2011: 27.6 % of population2012: 25.2 % of population2013: 22.8 % of population2014: 20 % of population2020: 9.4 % of population2021: 7.9 % of population2022: 6.1 % of population2023: 4.7 % of population2024: 3.8 % of population

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 % of population.

Analysis

In 2024, poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia stood at 3.8%. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.

That represents a change of down 19.1% on the previous year and down 81.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia peaked at 55.9% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2024.

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

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

Annual values for Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) in South Asia, 1981 to 2024.
Year % of population Change
1981 55.9%
1982 54.2% -3.0%
1983 50.9% -6.1%
1984 50.7% -0.4%
1985 50.6% -0.2%
1986 50.7% +0.2%
1987 51.3% +1.2%
1988 51.1% -0.4%
1989 50.4% -1.4%
1990 49.7% -1.4%
1991 49.6% -0.2%
1992 48.9% -1.4%
1993 48.1% -1.6%
1994 47.4% -1.5%
1995 47.1% -0.6%
1996 46.8% -0.6%
2002 46.0% -1.7%
2003 45.6% -0.9%
2004 45.0% -1.3%
2005 43.3% -3.8%
2006 40.7% -6.0%
2007 38.1% -6.4%
2008 36.8% -3.4%
2009 34.6% -6.0%
2010 30.4% -12.1%
2011 27.6% -9.2%
2012 25.2% -8.7%
2013 22.8% -9.5%
2014 20.0% -12.3%
2020 9.4% -53.0%
2021 7.9% -16.0%
2022 6.1% -22.8%
2023 4.7% -23.0%
2024 3.8% -19.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 51.8% 50.4% 55.9% 9
1990s 48.2% 46.8% 49.7% 7
2000s 41.3% 34.6% 46.0% 8
2010s 25.2% 20.0% 30.4% 5
2020s 6.4% 3.8% 9.4% 5

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 6 Niger 60.5% compare
  2. 7 Uganda 59.8% compare
  3. 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 51.3% compare
  4. 9 Kenya 45.5% compare
  5. 10 Burkina Faso 42.1% compare
  6. 11 Nigeria 41.8% compare
  7. 12 Guinea-Bissau 39.9% 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 headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia?
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia was 3.8% 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 headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 55.9% in 1981.
What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2024.
How does South Asia rank for poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp)?
South Asia ranks 9th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
Is poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 81.0%. 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 headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty headcount ratio 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 13 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-3-00-a-day-2021-ppp-percent-of-population/south-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)
Unit
% of population
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 headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.