Proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa
Western Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 35.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa, 1983–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa stood at 35.6%.
That represents a change of down 3.3% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa peaked at 64.9% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 33.6%, in 2019.
That places Western Africa 8th out of 42 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 59.7% | — |
| 1984 | 60.5% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 59.7% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 60.2% | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 60.9% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 61.1% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 62.0% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 62.0% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 63.3% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 64.3% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 64.2% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 64.6% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 64.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 64.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 64.0% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 63.6% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 63.3% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 61.4% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 58.9% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 57.7% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 55.8% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 54.9% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 53.7% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 50.7% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 49.6% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 47.3% | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 45.7% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 44.3% | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 42.6% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 41.0% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 41.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 39.4% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 37.1% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 33.6% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 36.8% | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 37.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 36.8% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | -3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 60.6% | 59.7% | 62.0% | 7 |
| 1990s | 63.9% | 62.0% | 64.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.3% | 49.6% | 61.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 40.7% | 33.6% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.7% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
- 5 Madagascar 69.2% compare
- 6 Niger 60.5% compare
- 7 Uganda 59.8% compare
- 8 United Republic of Tanzania 51.3% compare
- 9 Kenya 45.5% compare
- 10 Melanesia 44.1% compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 42.1% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Western Africa
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Western Africa was 35.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9% in 1995.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.6% in 2019.
- How does Western Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Western Africa ranks 8th out of 42 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western 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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