Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Tanzania
Tanzania: Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median was 3.9% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Tanzania, 1991–2018
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Tanzania is 3.9%, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 44.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Tanzania peaked at 7.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2011.
Tanzania ranks 88th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.3% | — |
| 2000 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 7.1% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -47.5% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +5.7% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 3.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 78% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 3.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 78% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More poverty & inequality data for Tanzania
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 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 4.61 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,961 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 8.03 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 11.48 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 11.5% (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 Tanzania?
- Relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median in Tanzania was 3.9% in 2018, 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 7.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2011.
- How does Tanzania rank for relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median?
- Tanzania ranks 88th out of 120 countries with data for 2018.
- Is relative poverty: share of population below 40% of the median rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 40% of the median.