Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in World

World: Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) was 18.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
18.9%
Change on year
down 3.6%
Rank
7th
of 14 groups
All-time high
56.7%
in 1981
All-time low
18.9%
in 2024
Years of data
43
1981–2024

Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in World, 1981–2024

20304050601981200220241981: 56.7 % of population1982: 56.7 % of population1983: 56.7 % of population1984: 56.5 % of population1985: 56.2 % of population1986: 55.6 % of population1987: 55.7 % of population1988: 55.2 % of population1989: 55.6 % of population1990: 55.6 % of population1991: 55.6 % of population1992: 55.4 % of population1993: 55.2 % of population1994: 54.6 % of population1995: 53.7 % of population1996: 52.8 % of population1997: 52.3 % of population1998: 52.2 % of population1999: 52.1 % of population2000: 50.9 % of population2001: 49.9 % of population2002: 48.6 % of population2003: 47.2 % of population2004: 45.4 % of population2005: 43.7 % of population2006: 42.2 % of population2007: 40.5 % of population2008: 39.3 % of population2009: 38.1 % of population2010: 35.8 % of population2011: 33.6 % of population2012: 32 % of population2013: 29.3 % of population2014: 27.9 % of population2015: 26.3 % of population2016: 24.9 % of population2017: 23.6 % of population2018: 22.3 % of population2020: 22.1 % of population2021: 21.4 % of population2022: 20.5 % of population2023: 19.6 % of population2024: 18.9 % 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

World recorded 18.9% for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 32.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in World peaked at 56.7% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 18.9%, in 2024.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.

Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in World, year by year

Annual values for Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) in World, 1981 to 2024.
Year % of population Change
1981 56.7%
1982 56.7% +0.0%
1983 56.7% +0.0%
1984 56.5% -0.4%
1985 56.2% -0.5%
1986 55.6% -1.1%
1987 55.7% +0.2%
1988 55.2% -0.9%
1989 55.6% +0.7%
1990 55.6% +0.0%
1991 55.6% +0.0%
1992 55.4% -0.4%
1993 55.2% -0.4%
1994 54.6% -1.1%
1995 53.7% -1.6%
1996 52.8% -1.7%
1997 52.3% -0.9%
1998 52.2% -0.2%
1999 52.1% -0.2%
2000 50.9% -2.3%
2001 49.9% -2.0%
2002 48.6% -2.6%
2003 47.2% -2.9%
2004 45.4% -3.8%
2005 43.7% -3.7%
2006 42.2% -3.4%
2007 40.5% -4.0%
2008 39.3% -3.0%
2009 38.1% -3.1%
2010 35.8% -6.0%
2011 33.6% -6.1%
2012 32.0% -4.8%
2013 29.3% -8.4%
2014 27.9% -4.8%
2015 26.3% -5.7%
2016 24.9% -5.3%
2017 23.6% -5.2%
2018 22.3% -5.5%
2020 22.1% -0.9%
2021 21.4% -3.2%
2022 20.5% -4.2%
2023 19.6% -4.4%
2024 18.9% -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 56.1% 55.2% 56.7% 9
1990s 54.0% 52.1% 55.6% 10
2000s 44.6% 38.1% 50.9% 10
2010s 28.4% 22.3% 35.8% 9
2020s 20.5% 18.9% 22.1% 5

Countries ranked near World

  1. 4 Madagascar 83.9% compare
  2. 5 Zambia 81.4% compare
  3. 6 Niger 79.7% compare
  4. 7 Uganda 76.3% compare
  5. 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 70.0% compare
  6. 9 Kenya 65.5% compare
  7. 10 Burkina Faso 64.6% compare

See the full ranking of 137 places →

More poverty & inequality data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in World?
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in World was 18.9% 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 $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 56.7% in 1981.
What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 18.9% in 2024.
How does World rank for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
World ranks 7th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
Is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this World 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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Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in World. 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 08 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-4-20-a-day-2021-ppp-percent-of-population/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 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 $4.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $4.20 a day at 2021 international prices.