Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 1.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Jamaica, 1988–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in Jamaica is 1.4%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 250.0% on the previous year and up 250.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Jamaica peaked at 20.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2018.
Jamaica ranks 65th of 133 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 13.8% | — |
| 1990 | 11.6% | -15.9% |
| 1993 | 20.5% | +76.7% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -59.5% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -31.3% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | +12.3% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -29.7% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -91.1% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | +250.0% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 1.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.2%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 1.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.5%, 55% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 5.7% | 20.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 4.5% | 6.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More poverty & inequality data for Jamaica
- 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 1.36 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,140 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 -1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.77 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.8% (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 Jamaica?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Jamaica was 1.4% in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2018.
- How does Jamaica rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Jamaica ranks 65th out of 133 countries with data for 2021.
- Where does this Jamaica 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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