Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) in Spain
Spain: Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) was 2.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Spain, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in extreme poverty in Spain is 2.0%, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in Spain peaked at 83.0% in 1820 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
Spain ranks 9th of 25 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 83.0% | — |
| 1830 | 81.0% | -2.4% |
| 1840 | 78.0% | -3.7% |
| 1850 | 74.0% | -5.1% |
| 1860 | 67.0% | -9.5% |
| 1870 | 71.0% | +6.0% |
| 1880 | 52.0% | -26.8% |
| 1890 | 51.0% | -1.9% |
| 1900 | 53.0% | +3.9% |
| 1910 | 46.0% | -13.2% |
| 1920 | 51.0% | +10.9% |
| 1930 | 42.0% | -17.6% |
| 1940 | 42.0% | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 34.0% | -19.0% |
| 1960 | 20.0% | -41.2% |
| 1970 | 5.0% | -75.0% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 1.0% | — |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +100.0% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 2.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 2.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Spain's 2.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.0%, 2.0× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) in Spain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +100.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 81.0% | 81.0% | 81.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 67.0% | 67.0% | 67.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 71.0% | 71.0% | 71.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 52.0% | 52.0% | 52.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 51.0% | 51.0% | 51.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 53.0% | 53.0% | 53.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 46.0% | 46.0% | 46.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 51.0% | 51.0% | 51.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 42.0% | 42.0% | 42.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 42.0% | 42.0% | 42.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 34.0% | 34.0% | 34.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More poverty & inequality data for Spain
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 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 1.21 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,786 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 72.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 36.42 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 36.4% (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 Spain?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in Spain was 2.0% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 83.0% in 1820.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Spain rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- Spain ranks 9th out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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..