Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population) in South Asia
South Asia: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population) was 17.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Asia, 1981–2024
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
In 2024, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Asia stood at 17.6%. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.0% on the previous year and down 42.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Asia peaked at 55.9% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 17.6%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 55.9% | — |
| 1982 | 54.3% | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 50.9% | -6.3% |
| 1984 | 50.9% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 50.7% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 50.9% | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 51.4% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 51.3% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 50.5% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 49.8% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 49.8% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 49.1% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 48.3% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 47.6% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 47.3% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 47.0% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 46.2% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 46.0% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 45.5% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 44.0% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 41.5% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 39.1% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 37.9% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 36.6% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 34.8% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 33.7% | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 32.7% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 30.4% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 24.7% | -18.7% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 22.2% | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 20.0% | -9.9% |
| 2024 | 17.6% | -12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 51.9% | 50.5% | 55.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 48.4% | 47.0% | 49.8% | 7 |
| 2000s | 42.1% | 36.6% | 46.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 32.6% | 30.4% | 34.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | 21.6% | 17.6% | 24.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More poverty & inequality data for South Asia
- Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 2.6% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 0.3% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 15.0% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 2.4% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 76.9% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 25.8% (2024)
- Prosperity gap 4.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Asia?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Asia was 17.6% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 55.9% in 1981.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.6% in 2024.
- How does South Asia rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- South Asia ranks 12th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South 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.