Proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa

Eastern Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 51.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
51.3%
Change on year
down 2.1%
Rank
1st
of 35 groups
All-time high
70.5%
in 1993
All-time low
51.2%
in 2015
Years of data
31
1993–2024

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa, 1993–2024

0204060801993200820241993: 70.51994: 69.81995: 69.21996: 68.21997: 68.41998: 68.91999: 68.32000: 672001: 65.32002: 66.82003: 65.42004: 60.72005: 58.52006: 57.42007: 56.42008: 55.72009: 55.12010: 54.12011: 53.52012: 52.62013: 51.92014: 51.42015: 51.22016: 51.62017: 52.32018: 52.42020: 54.32021: 54.62022: 53.92023: 52.42024: 51.3

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Eastern Africa recorded 51.3% for proportion of population below international poverty line in 2024.

The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa peaked at 70.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 51.2%, in 2015.

That places Eastern Africa 1st out of 35 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Eastern Africa, 1993 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1993 70.5%
1994 69.8% -1.0%
1995 69.2% -0.9%
1996 68.2% -1.4%
1997 68.4% +0.3%
1998 68.9% +0.7%
1999 68.3% -0.9%
2000 67.0% -1.9%
2001 65.3% -2.5%
2002 66.8% +2.3%
2003 65.4% -2.1%
2004 60.7% -7.2%
2005 58.5% -3.6%
2006 57.4% -1.9%
2007 56.4% -1.7%
2008 55.7% -1.2%
2009 55.1% -1.1%
2010 54.1% -1.8%
2011 53.5% -1.1%
2012 52.6% -1.7%
2013 51.9% -1.3%
2014 51.4% -1.0%
2015 51.2% -0.4%
2016 51.6% +0.8%
2017 52.3% +1.4%
2018 52.4% +0.2%
2020 54.3% +3.6%
2021 54.6% +0.6%
2022 53.9% -1.3%
2023 52.4% -2.8%
2024 51.3% -2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 69.0% 68.2% 70.5% 7
2000s 60.8% 55.1% 67.0% 10
2010s 52.3% 51.2% 54.1% 9
2020s 53.3% 51.3% 54.6% 5

Countries ranked near Eastern Africa

  1. 1 Mozambique 81.4% compare
  2. 2 Malawi 75.4% compare
  3. 3 Burundi 74.2% compare
  4. 4 Zambia 71.7% compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Eastern Africa

All data for Eastern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa?
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa was 51.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Eastern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 70.5% in 1993.
What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Eastern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 51.2% in 2015.
How does Eastern Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
Eastern Africa ranks 1st out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Eastern 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.

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Proportion of population below international poverty line in Eastern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-below-international-poverty-line-percent/eastern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
164 places, 3,780 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed