Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in India
India: Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) was 12.9% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in India, 1977–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 12.9% for share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.4% on the previous year and down 43.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in India peaked at 63.5% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 11.1%, in 2018.
That places India 25th out of 119 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 63.5% | — |
| 1983 | 56.7% | -10.8% |
| 1987 | 50.9% | -10.1% |
| 1993 | 48.0% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 40.6% | -15.4% |
| 2009 | 33.5% | -17.6% |
| 2011 | 22.9% | -31.7% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | -18.0% |
| 2016 | 18.1% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 13.4% | -26.2% |
| 2018 | 11.1% | -17.1% |
| 2019 | 13.2% | +19.0% |
| 2020 | 15.5% | +17.0% |
| 2021 | 12.9% | -16.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 63.5% | 63.5% | 63.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 53.8% | 50.9% | 56.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 48.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 37.0% | 33.5% | 40.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 11.1% | 22.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 14.2% | 12.9% | 15.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More poverty & inequality data for India
- 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 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 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 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 (2017 prices) in India?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in India was 12.9% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 63.5% in 1977.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.1% in 2018.
- How does India rank for share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices)?
- India ranks 25th out of 119 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices). 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 $2.15 per day.