Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) was 1.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty in United Kingdom, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 1.0% for share of population living in extreme poverty in 2018.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in United Kingdom peaked at 80.0% in 1820 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1970.
That places United Kingdom 14th out of 25 countries with data for 2018, putting it 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 80.0% | — |
| 1830 | 78.0% | -2.5% |
| 1840 | 78.0% | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 69.0% | -11.5% |
| 1860 | 68.0% | -1.4% |
| 1870 | 55.0% | -19.1% |
| 1880 | 48.0% | -12.7% |
| 1890 | 35.0% | -27.1% |
| 1900 | 32.0% | -8.6% |
| 1910 | 35.0% | +9.4% |
| 1920 | 33.0% | -5.7% |
| 1930 | 20.0% | -39.4% |
| 1940 | 6.0% | -70.0% |
| 1950 | 2.0% | -66.7% |
| 1960 | 4.0% | +100.0% |
| 1970 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 1.0% | — |
| 2018 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.0%, 1.0× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in extreme poverty (Michalis Moatsos) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +100.0% | 2.0% | 4.0% |
| 1970 | -100.0% | 4.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 80.0% | 80.0% | 80.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 69.0% | 69.0% | 69.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 68.0% | 68.0% | 68.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 55.0% | 55.0% | 55.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 48.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 35.0% | 35.0% | 35.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 32.0% | 32.0% | 32.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 35.0% | 35.0% | 35.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 33.0% | 33.0% | 33.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 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 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 6 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 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,138 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 -7.54 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.91 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (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 United Kingdom?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in United Kingdom was 1.0% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 1820.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1970.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- United Kingdom ranks 14th out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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..