Proportion of population below international poverty line in Northern Africa

Northern Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 3.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
3.6%
Change on year
up 12.5%
Rank
25th
of 42 groups
All-time high
13.7%
in 1988
All-time low
2.9%
in 2015
Years of data
30
1988–2017

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Northern Africa, 1988–2017

2.557.51012.51988200220171988: 13.7 %1989: 12.8 %1990: 13 %1991: 12.2 %1992: 12.2 %1993: 12.3 %1994: 12 %1995: 11.9 %1996: 10.7 %1997: 9.5 %1998: 8.5 %1999: 8 %2000: 7.7 %2001: 7.6 %2002: 7.6 %2003: 7.2 %2004: 7 %2005: 6.6 %2006: 6 %2007: 5.7 %2008: 5.3 %2009: 4.7 %2010: 4.1 %2011: 3.4 %2012: 3.4 %2013: 3.2 %2014: 3 %2015: 2.9 %2016: 3.2 %2017: 3.6 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in Northern Africa is 3.6%, measured in 2017.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.5% on the previous year and down 36.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Northern Africa peaked at 13.7% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2015.

That places Northern Africa 25th out of 42 groups with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Northern Africa, 1988 to 2017.
Year % Change
1988 13.7%
1989 12.8% -6.6%
1990 13.0% +1.6%
1991 12.2% -6.2%
1992 12.2% +0.0%
1993 12.3% +0.8%
1994 12.0% -2.4%
1995 11.9% -0.8%
1996 10.7% -10.1%
1997 9.5% -11.2%
1998 8.5% -10.5%
1999 8.0% -5.9%
2000 7.7% -3.7%
2001 7.6% -1.3%
2002 7.6% +0.0%
2003 7.2% -5.3%
2004 7.0% -2.8%
2005 6.6% -5.7%
2006 6.0% -9.1%
2007 5.7% -5.0%
2008 5.3% -7.0%
2009 4.7% -11.3%
2010 4.1% -12.8%
2011 3.4% -17.1%
2012 3.4% +0.0%
2013 3.2% -5.9%
2014 3.0% -6.3%
2015 2.9% -3.3%
2016 3.2% +10.3%
2017 3.6% +12.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 13.2% 12.8% 13.7% 2
1990s 11.0% 8.0% 13.0% 10
2000s 6.5% 4.7% 7.7% 10
2010s 3.4% 2.9% 4.1% 8

Countries ranked near Northern Africa

  1. 22 Gambia 22.0% compare
  2. 23 Botswana 21.4% compare
  3. 24 Côte d'Ivoire 20.8% compare
  4. 24 Côte d'Ivoire 20.8% compare
  5. 26 Syrian Arab Republic 18.0% compare
  6. 26 Syrian Arab Republic 18.0% compare
  7. 28 Senegal 17.9% compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Northern Africa

All data for Northern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Northern Africa?
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Northern Africa was 3.6% in 2017, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Northern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 1988.
What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Northern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2015.
How does Northern Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
Northern Africa ranks 25th out of 42 groups with data for 2017.
Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Northern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Northern 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 Northern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-below-international-poverty-line-percent/northern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
174 places, 4,024 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed