Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median was 4.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso, 1994–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso stood at 4.2%.
The figure is down 11.7% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso peaked at 7.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2014.
Burkina Faso ranks 83rd of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 5.2% | — |
| 1998 | 7.1% | +37.0% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | -24.6% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | -79.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | +327.6% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -11.7% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 4.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 4.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 83% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.1% | 5.2% | 7.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 5.4% | 7.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 1.1% | 4.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More poverty & inequality data for Burkina Faso
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 4.19 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,198 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 18.4 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 18.4% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso?
- Relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Burkina Faso was 4.2% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 7.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2014.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median?
- Burkina Faso ranks 83rd out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 40% of the median.