Proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America
Central America: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 3.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America, 1981–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America stood at 3.5%. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.9% on the previous year and down 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America peaked at 22.2% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2024.
Central America ranks 21st of 35 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 17.5% | — |
| 1982 | 18.5% | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 20.2% | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 20.0% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 19.9% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 21.0% | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 20.6% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 20.2% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 19.3% | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 18.3% | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 17.6% | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 17.1% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 17.0% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 16.4% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 19.9% | +21.3% |
| 1996 | 22.2% | +11.6% |
| 1997 | 21.4% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 21.6% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 19.7% | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 16.6% | -15.7% |
| 2001 | 15.4% | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 14.1% | -8.4% |
| 2003 | 13.9% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 12.9% | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 13.2% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 11.0% | -16.7% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 10.6% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 10.7% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 9.2% | -14.0% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 7.8% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | -16.7% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | -12.3% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | -20.0% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | -7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.7% | 17.5% | 21.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 19.1% | 16.4% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.9% | 10.6% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 5.2% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 3.5% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Central America
More poverty & inequality data for Central America
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Central America was 3.5% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Central America?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1996.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Central America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2024.
- How does Central America rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Central America ranks 21st out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Central America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central America 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.
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