Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Benin
Benin: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 35.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Benin, 2003–2021
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
Benin recorded 35.0% for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.5% on the previous year and down 48.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Benin peaked at 70.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2021.
Benin ranks 20th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 70.5% | — |
| 2011 | 68.4% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 65.8% | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | -39.2% |
| 2021 | 35.0% | -12.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.5% | 70.5% | 70.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 58.1% | 40.0% | 68.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 35.0% | 35.0% | 35.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More poverty & inequality data for Benin
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 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 4.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,356 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 20.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 11.63 (2013)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 11.6% (2013)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2013)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Benin?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Benin was 35.0% in 2021, 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 societal poverty line recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 70.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2021.
- How does Benin rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Benin ranks 20th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin 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 societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.