Share of population living in extreme poverty in China
China: Share of population living in extreme poverty was 5.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in extreme poverty in China, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 5.0% for share of population living in extreme poverty in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 73.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in China peaked at 84.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2018.
China ranks 7th of 25 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of population living in extreme poverty in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 76.0% | — |
| 1830 | 76.0% | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 77.0% | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 78.0% | +1.3% |
| 1860 | 78.0% | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 77.0% | -1.3% |
| 1880 | 76.0% | -1.3% |
| 1890 | 73.0% | -3.9% |
| 1900 | 74.0% | +1.4% |
| 1910 | 77.0% | +4.1% |
| 1920 | 76.0% | -1.3% |
| 1930 | 77.0% | +1.3% |
| 1940 | 79.0% | +2.6% |
| 1950 | 84.0% | +6.3% |
| 1960 | 73.0% | -13.1% |
| 1970 | 75.0% | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 53.0% | -29.3% |
| 1990 | 42.0% | -20.8% |
| 2000 | 33.0% | -21.4% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | -42.4% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -73.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 76.0% | 76.0% | 76.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 76.0% | 76.0% | 76.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 77.0% | 77.0% | 77.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 77.0% | 77.0% | 77.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 76.0% | 76.0% | 76.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 77.0% | 77.0% | 77.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 76.0% | 76.0% | 76.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 77.0% | 77.0% | 77.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 79.0% | 79.0% | 79.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 84.0% | 84.0% | 84.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 75.0% | 75.0% | 75.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 53.0% | 53.0% | 53.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 42.0% | 42.0% | 42.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.0% | 33.0% | 33.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 5.0% | 19.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More poverty & inequality data for China
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 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 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 6,418 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 0.5767 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 22.1 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 22.1% (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 China?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in China was 5.0% in 2018, according to Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 84.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2018.
- How does China rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- China ranks 7th out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Michalis Moatsos (2021) – 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.
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About this data
Share of the population unable to meet basic needs (including minimal nutrition and adequately heated shelter) according to prices of locally-available goods and services at the time..