Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Benin
Benin: Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines was 27.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Benin, 2003–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Benin recorded 27.2% for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 26.8% on the previous year and down 60.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Benin peaked at 70.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 27.2%, in 2021.
That places Benin 18th out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 70.5% | — |
| 2011 | 68.4% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 65.8% | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 37.2% | -43.5% |
| 2021 | 27.2% | -26.8% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 27.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.7%, 2.8× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Benin's 27.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.8%, 70% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.5% | 70.5% | 70.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 57.1% | 37.2% | 68.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 27.2% | 27.2% | 27.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More poverty & inequality data for Benin
- 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 4.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,356 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 20.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 11.63 (2013)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 11.6% (2013)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2013)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Benin?
- Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Benin was 27.2% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 70.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.2% in 2021.
- How does Benin rank for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines?
- Benin ranks 18th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share in poverty relative to different poverty lines rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin 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 Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines. 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 $3 per day.