Proportion of population below international poverty line in South America
South America: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 3.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in South America, 1981–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in South America is 3.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of down 9.8% on the previous year and down 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in South America peaked at 25.6% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2024.
South America ranks 19th of 35 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 21.0% | — |
| 1982 | 21.7% | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 25.6% | +18.0% |
| 1984 | 25.2% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 22.8% | -9.5% |
| 1986 | 14.7% | -35.5% |
| 1987 | 19.0% | +29.3% |
| 1988 | 19.8% | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 18.9% | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 21.5% | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 20.8% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 21.3% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 21.2% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 20.4% | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 17.7% | -13.2% |
| 1996 | 18.9% | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 18.5% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 18.1% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 19.2% | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 18.3% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 18.6% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 17.8% | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | -9.9% |
| 2005 | 13.9% | -9.7% |
| 2006 | 11.5% | -17.3% |
| 2007 | 10.6% | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 8.8% | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -11.4% |
| 2011 | 7.0% | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -11.9% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | +11.3% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6.0% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | -15.0% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | +21.6% |
| 2022 | 4.6% | -25.8% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | -10.9% |
| 2024 | 3.7% | -9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.0% | 14.7% | 25.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 19.8% | 17.7% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 8.8% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 5.3% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 3.7% | 6.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South America
More poverty & inequality data for South America
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in South America?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in South America was 3.7% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 25.6% in 1983.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2024.
- How does South America rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- South America ranks 19th out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South America 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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