Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 39.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia, 1995–2021
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
In 2021, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia stood at 39.7%.
That represents a change of up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia peaked at 73.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 37.9%, in 2015.
Ethiopia ranks 15th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 73.5% | — |
| 1999 | 65.9% | -10.3% |
| 2004 | 41.3% | -37.3% |
| 2010 | 38.5% | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 37.9% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 39.7% | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 69.7% | 65.9% | 73.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 41.3% | 41.3% | 41.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 38.2% | 37.9% | 38.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.7% | 39.7% | 39.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More poverty & inequality data for Ethiopia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 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 3.99 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,632 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 -0.9299 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via -50 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.497 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 10.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Ethiopia was 39.7% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 73.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.9% in 2015.
- How does Ethiopia rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Ethiopia ranks 15th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.