Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in China
China: Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) was 0.5% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in China, 1981–2022
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
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in China is 0.5%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 66.7% on the previous year and down 98.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in China peaked at 99.7% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2021.
That places China 96th out of 123 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in China, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 99.7% | — |
| 1984 | 97.8% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 93.9% | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 93.4% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 89.3% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 79.9% | -10.5% |
| 1999 | 74.7% | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 63.7% | -14.7% |
| 2005 | 50.5% | -20.7% |
| 2008 | 41.3% | -18.2% |
| 2010 | 34.9% | -15.5% |
| 2011 | 29.1% | -16.6% |
| 2012 | 25.1% | -13.7% |
| 2013 | 16.7% | -33.5% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | -18.0% |
| 2015 | 10.6% | -22.6% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | -20.8% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | -10.7% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | -26.7% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | -45.5% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | -43.3% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | -82.4% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | +66.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 97.1% | 93.9% | 99.7% | 3 |
| 1990s | 84.3% | 74.7% | 93.4% | 4 |
| 2000s | 51.8% | 41.3% | 63.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 3.0% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More poverty & inequality data for China
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 6,418 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 0.5767 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 22.1 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 22.1% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in China?
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in China was 0.5% in 2022, 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 $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 99.7% in 1981.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2021.
- How does China rank for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
- China ranks 96th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $4.20 a day at 2021 international prices.