Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 14.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Europe & Central Asia, 1988–2024
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
Europe & Central Asia recorded 14.2% for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 22.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 18.7% | — |
| 1989 | 18.6% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 19.0% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 19.3% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 20.3% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 21.3% | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 22.6% | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 22.3% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 22.4% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 21.5% | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 21.4% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 22.5% | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 22.0% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 21.4% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 20.7% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 20.5% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 19.9% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 19.7% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 19.1% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 18.4% | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 17.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 15.9% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 15.7% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 15.6% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 15.0% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 14.8% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 14.2% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 21.3% | 19.0% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.8% | 17.9% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.1% | 15.0% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.5% | 14.2% | 14.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More poverty & inequality data for Europe & Central Asia
- Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 0.6% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 0.3% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 1.1% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 4.8% (2024)
- Prosperity gap 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day (2024)
- Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 0.4% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 1.6% (2024)
- Population living in slums 2.8% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Europe & Central Asia?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Europe & Central Asia was 14.2% 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 societal poverty line recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2024.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 14th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central 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 societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.