Prosperity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Prosperity gap was 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
Change on year
down 0.9%
Rank
2nd
of 14 groups
All-time high
18.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
in 1994
All-time low
11.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day
in 2018
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Prosperity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day for prosperity gap in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, prosperity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 18.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1994 and was at its lowest, 11.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, in 2018.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Prosperity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | — |
| 1991 | 17.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 18.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 18.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 18.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 18.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 18.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 17.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 17.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 17.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 17.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 17.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 16.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 16.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 15.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 15 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 14.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 13.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 13.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 13.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 12.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 11.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 11.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 11.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 11.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 11.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 11.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 11.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 11.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 11.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 11.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.02 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 17.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 18.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.25 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 13.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 17.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.74 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 11.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 12.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.72 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 11.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Mozambique 24.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 2 Zambia 22.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 3 Malawi 16.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 4 Burundi 16.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 5 Madagascar 14.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
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)
- 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)
- Proportion of population below international poverty line 45.2% (2024)
- Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age 40.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prosperity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Prosperity gap in Sub-Saharan Africa was 11.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2024, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest prosperity gap recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1994.
- What is the lowest prosperity gap recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2018.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for prosperity gap?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prosperity gap rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28 per day (adjusted for differences in purchasing power parity across countries). It is measured as the average factor by which incomes fall short of $28.