Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in Guatemala
Guatemala: Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median was 19.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in Guatemala, 1986–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 19.1% for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in Guatemala peaked at 27.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2023.
That places Guatemala 12th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 25.5% | — |
| 1989 | 27.8% | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 23.8% | -14.4% |
| 2000 | 21.4% | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 24.5% | +14.5% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | -19.8% |
| 2023 | 19.1% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.6% | 25.5% | 27.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 23.8% | 23.8% | 23.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.9% | 21.4% | 24.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 19.6% | 19.6% | 1 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 19.1% | 19.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 9 South Africa 20.4% compare
- 10 Costa Rica 20.0% compare
- 11 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 19.9% compare
- 13 United States of America 18.9% compare
- 14 Cameroon 18.8% compare
- 15 North Macedonia 18.4% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Guatemala
- 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 2.31 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,822 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 -5.65 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.3 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.3% (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 Guatemala?
- Relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in Guatemala was 19.1% in 2023, 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2023.
- How does Guatemala rank for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median?
- Guatemala ranks 12th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 50% of the median.