Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median was 10.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% 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
The most recent figure for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in Burkina Faso is 10.5%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in Burkina Faso peaked at 13.7% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2014.
That places Burkina Faso 72nd out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 11.4% | — |
| 1998 | 13.7% | +20.3% |
| 2003 | 13.4% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 11.6% | -13.3% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -54.5% |
| 2018 | 11.4% | +114.7% |
| 2021 | 10.5% | -7.8% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 10.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 10.5%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 10.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.1%, 94% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.6% | 11.4% | 13.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.5% | 11.6% | 13.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.3% | 5.3% | 11.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.5% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 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 50% of the median in Burkina Faso?
- Relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in Burkina Faso was 10.5% 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 50% of the median recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 1998.
- What is the lowest relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2014.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median?
- Burkina Faso ranks 72nd out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. 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 50% 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 50% of the median.