Proportion of population below international poverty line in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 45.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 45.2% for proportion of population below international poverty line in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 66.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 45.1%, in 2019.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd of 42 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62.9% | — |
| 1991 | 64.2% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 65.4% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 66.2% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 66.1% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 65.5% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 65.3% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 65.3% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 65.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 64.3% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 63.1% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 62.7% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 61.7% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 58.7% | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 57.1% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 56.0% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 54.8% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 53.5% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 53.0% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 50.9% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 49.9% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 48.6% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 47.5% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 46.5% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 46.0% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 45.1% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 47.3% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 47.4% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 46.8% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 46.1% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 45.2% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.2% | 62.9% | 66.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.5% | 53.0% | 64.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.3% | 45.1% | 50.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.6% | 45.2% | 47.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More poverty & inequality data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 45.1% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 17.2% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 63.3% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 88.6% (2024)
- Prosperity gap 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day (2024)
- Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 27.9% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line 48.3% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 53.2% (2024)
- Population living in slums 53.7% (2022)
- Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age 40.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Sub-Saharan Africa was 45.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 66.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.1% in 2019.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 42 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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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