Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Guatemala
Guatemala: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 9.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.7%
World rank
34th
of 133 countries
All-time high
47.4%
in 1986
All-time low
8.0%
in 2014
Years of data
7
1986–2023
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Guatemala, 1986–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 9.7% for proportion of population below international poverty line in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Guatemala peaked at 47.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2014.
That places Guatemala 34th out of 133 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 47.4% | — |
| 1989 | 35.1% | -25.9% |
| 1998 | 13.4% | -61.8% |
| 2000 | 8.8% | -34.3% |
| 2006 | 10.5% | +19.3% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | -23.8% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | +21.2% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 9.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.2%, 7.8× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 9.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.5%, 3.8× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.2% | 35.1% | 47.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 13.4% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.7% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 1 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 31 Guinea 11.7% compare
- 32 Caribbean 11.6% compare
- 33 Mauritania 10.2% compare
- 34 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 9.7% compare
- 36 Colombia 8.5% compare
- 37 Lao People's Democratic Republic 7.1% compare
- 37 Laos 7.1% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Guatemala
- 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 2.31 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,822 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 -5.65 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.3 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.3% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Guatemala?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Guatemala was 9.7% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 47.4% in 1986.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2014.
- How does Guatemala rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Guatemala ranks 34th out of 133 countries with data for 2023.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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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