Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nepal
Nepal: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 20.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nepal, 1984–2022
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
In 2022, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nepal stood at 20.2%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nepal peaked at 83.0% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 20.2%, in 2022.
That places Nepal 64th out of 123 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 83.0% | — |
| 1995 | 71.1% | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 55.9% | -21.4% |
| 2010 | 33.7% | -39.7% |
| 2022 | 20.2% | -40.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 71.1% | 71.1% | 71.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 55.9% | 55.9% | 55.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 33.7% | 33.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 20.2% | 20.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 61 Montenegro 20.9% compare
- 62 Uruguay 20.5% compare
- 63 Dominican Republic 20.3% compare
- 64 United States of America 20.2% compare
- 66 Malaysia 19.9% compare
- 67 Viet Nam 19.7% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Nepal
- 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 3,344 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 3.91 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.67 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.7% (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 Nepal?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Nepal was 20.2% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 83.0% in 1984.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.2% in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Nepal ranks 64th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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.