Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in India
India: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 5.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
5.3%
World rank
42nd
of 133 countries
All-time high
59.7%
in 1977
All-time low
5.3%
in 2022
Years of data
8
1977–2022
Proportion of population below international poverty line in India, 1977–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in India is 5.3%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 80.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in India peaked at 59.7% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2022.
That places India 42nd out of 133 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 59.7% | — |
| 1983 | 50.9% | -14.7% |
| 1987 | 51.8% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 47.5% | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 46.4% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 34.6% | -25.4% |
| 2011 | 27.1% | -21.7% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | -80.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 5.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.2%, 52% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- India's 5.3% is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.7%, 2.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.7% | 59.7% | 59.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 51.3% | 50.9% | 51.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 40.5% | 34.6% | 46.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 27.1% | 27.1% | 1 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 39 Nicaragua 6.6% compare
- 40 Tajikistan 6.1% compare
- 41 Bangladesh 5.9% compare
- 42 Philippines 5.3% compare
- 44 Peru 5.1% compare
- 45 El Salvador 4.6% compare
More poverty & inequality data for India
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 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 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 India?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in India was 5.3% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 59.7% in 1977.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2022.
- How does India rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- India ranks 42nd out of 133 countries with data for 2022.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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