Proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa
Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 38.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa is 38.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa peaked at 54.4% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 2019.
That places Africa 5th out of 35 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 51.4% | — |
| 1990 | 51.8% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 52.7% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 53.7% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 54.3% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 54.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 54.3% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 53.7% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 53.3% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 53.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 52.9% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 52.4% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 51.5% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 51.2% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 50.4% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 48.0% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 46.8% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 45.9% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 44.9% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 43.9% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 43.4% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 41.7% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 40.9% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 39.8% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 39.0% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 38.3% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 38.4% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 38.3% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 38.0% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 37.6% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 37.4% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 39.3% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 39.5% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 39.1% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 39.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 38.7% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 51.4% | 51.4% | 51.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 53.4% | 51.8% | 54.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 43.4% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.9% | 37.4% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.1% | 38.7% | 39.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More poverty & inequality data for Africa
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Africa was 38.7% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.4% in 1994.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 2019.
- How does Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Africa ranks 5th out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).