Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Jamaica
Jamaica: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 23.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Jamaica, 1988–2021
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
Jamaica recorded 23.7% for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.8% on the previous year and up 28.8% over five years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Jamaica peaked at 32.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 18.4%, in 2018.
Jamaica ranks 44th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 30.7% | — |
| 1990 | 30.0% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 32.6% | +8.7% |
| 1996 | 27.9% | -14.4% |
| 1999 | 25.4% | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 28.4% | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 25.1% | -11.6% |
| 2018 | 18.4% | -26.7% |
| 2021 | 23.7% | +28.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 30.7% | 30.7% | 30.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 29.0% | 25.4% | 32.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 26.8% | 25.1% | 28.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.4% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 23.7% | 23.7% | 23.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 41 Lao People's Democratic Republic 25.3% compare
- 41 Philippines 25.3% compare
- 43 Argentina 24.1% compare
- 45 Costa Rica 23.6% compare
- 45 El Salvador 23.6% compare
- 47 Israel 23.5% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Jamaica
- 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 1.36 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,140 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.77 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.8% (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 Jamaica?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Jamaica was 23.7% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 32.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.4% in 2018.
- How does Jamaica rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Jamaica ranks 44th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.