Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia

Southern Asia: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 6.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
6.9%
Change on year
down 8.0%
Rank
15th
of 35 groups
All-time high
57.5%
in 1981
All-time low
6.9%
in 2024
Years of data
34
1981–2024

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia, 1981–2024

02040601981200220241981: 57.51982: 55.91983: 52.91984: 52.71985: 52.51986: 52.71987: 53.11988: 531989: 52.31990: 51.61991: 50.61992: 491993: 48.41994: 471995: 46.61996: 45.82002: 45.72003: 44.62004: 43.42005: 41.72006: 39.12007: 36.62008: 34.92009: 33.32010: 29.32011: 26.72012: 24.52013: 22.22014: 19.82020: 10.92021: 9.92022: 8.52023: 7.52024: 6.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia stood at 6.9%. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.

The figure is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 65.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia peaked at 57.5% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2024.

That places Southern Asia 15th out of 35 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Southern Asia, 1981 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1981 57.5%
1982 55.9% -2.8%
1983 52.9% -5.4%
1984 52.7% -0.4%
1985 52.5% -0.4%
1986 52.7% +0.4%
1987 53.1% +0.8%
1988 53.0% -0.2%
1989 52.3% -1.3%
1990 51.6% -1.3%
1991 50.6% -1.9%
1992 49.0% -3.2%
1993 48.4% -1.2%
1994 47.0% -2.9%
1995 46.6% -0.9%
1996 45.8% -1.7%
2002 45.7% -0.2%
2003 44.6% -2.4%
2004 43.4% -2.7%
2005 41.7% -3.9%
2006 39.1% -6.2%
2007 36.6% -6.4%
2008 34.9% -4.6%
2009 33.3% -4.6%
2010 29.3% -12.0%
2011 26.7% -8.9%
2012 24.5% -8.2%
2013 22.2% -9.4%
2014 19.8% -10.8%
2020 10.9% -44.9%
2021 9.9% -9.2%
2022 8.5% -14.1%
2023 7.5% -11.8%
2024 6.9% -8.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 53.6% 52.3% 57.5% 9
1990s 48.4% 45.8% 51.6% 7
2000s 39.9% 33.3% 45.7% 8
2010s 24.5% 19.8% 29.3% 5
2020s 8.7% 6.9% 10.9% 5

Countries ranked near Southern Asia

  1. 12 Ghana 39.0% compare
  2. 13 Ethiopia 38.6% compare
  3. 13 Rwanda 38.6% compare
  4. 15 Mali 36.1% compare
  5. 16 Togo 34.7% compare
  6. 16 Viet Nam 1.6% compare
  7. 17 Benin 27.2% compare
  8. 18 Cameroon 26.7% compare
  9. 18 Türkiye 0.2% compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Southern Asia

All data for Southern Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia?
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Asia was 6.9% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Southern Asia?
The highest recorded value was 57.5% in 1981.
What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Southern Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2024.
How does Southern Asia rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
Southern Asia ranks 15th out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Southern Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Southern Asia 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 Southern Asia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-below-international-poverty-line-percent/southern-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
164 places, 3,780 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed