Share of population living in extreme poverty (Share World Bank) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Share of population living in extreme poverty (Share World Bank) was 1.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Jamaica, 1988–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in extreme poverty in Jamaica is 1.4%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 226.4% on the previous year and up 226.4% over five years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in Jamaica peaked at 20.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2018.
Jamaica ranks 59th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (Share World Bank) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 13.8% | — |
| 1990 | 11.6% | -15.5% |
| 1993 | 20.5% | +76.6% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -59.7% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -30.9% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -29.2% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -90.6% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | +226.4% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 1.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.6%, 87% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 1.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.1%, 45% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 5.7% | 20.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 4.5% | 6.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More poverty & inequality data for Jamaica
- 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 1.36 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,140 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 -1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.77 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in extreme poverty in Jamaica?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in Jamaica was 1.4% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2018.
- How does Jamaica rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- Jamaica ranks 59th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Where does this Jamaica 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 of population living in extreme poverty. 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 $3 per day.