Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in India
India: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 21.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in India, 1977–2022
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 societal poverty line in India is 21.3%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 36.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in India peaked at 59.7% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 21.3%, in 2022.
India ranks 60th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in India, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 59.7% | — |
| 1983 | 50.9% | -14.7% |
| 1987 | 51.8% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 47.5% | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 46.4% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 36.5% | -21.3% |
| 2011 | 33.4% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 21.3% | -36.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.7% | 59.7% | 59.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 51.3% | 50.9% | 51.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 41.5% | 36.5% | 46.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.4% | 33.4% | 33.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 21.3% | 21.3% | 21.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 57 Belize 22.1% compare
- 57 Mexico 22.1% compare
- 59 Iran, Islamic Republic of 21.8% compare
- 61 Montenegro 20.9% compare
- 62 Uruguay 20.5% compare
- 63 Dominican Republic 20.3% compare
More poverty & inequality data for India
- 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 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 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 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 societal poverty line in India?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in India was 21.3% 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 societal poverty line recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 59.7% in 1977.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3% in 2022.
- How does India rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- India ranks 60th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.