Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China

China: Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 0.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
0.0%
World rank
117th
of 119 countries
All-time high
99.1%
in 1981
All-time low
0.0%
in 2020
Years of data
22
1981–2021

Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China, 1981–2021

0204060801001981200120211981: 99.1 %1984: 96.1 %1987: 90.2 %1990: 90 %1993: 84.7 %1996: 72.9 %1999: 68.4 %2002: 57.7 %2005: 43.5 %2008: 35.1 %2010: 28.8 %2011: 23.6 %2012: 20 %2013: 12 %2014: 9.7 %2015: 6.9 %2016: 5 %2017: 4.3 %2018: 2.7 %2019: 1.2 %2020: 0 %2021: 0 %

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China stood at 0.0%. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 100.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China peaked at 99.1% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2020.

That places China 117th out of 119 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China, 1981 to 2021.
Year % Change
1981 99.1%
1984 96.1% -3.1%
1987 90.2% -6.1%
1990 90.0% -0.2%
1993 84.7% -6.0%
1996 72.9% -13.9%
1999 68.4% -6.3%
2002 57.7% -15.6%
2005 43.5% -24.6%
2008 35.1% -19.3%
2010 28.8% -18.0%
2011 23.6% -18.2%
2012 20.0% -15.1%
2013 12.0% -39.9%
2014 9.7% -19.5%
2015 6.9% -28.2%
2016 5.0% -27.4%
2017 4.3% -15.0%
2018 2.7% -35.9%
2019 1.2% -55.7%
2020 0.0% -100.0%
2021 0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 95.1% 90.2% 99.1% 3
1990s 79.0% 68.4% 90.0% 4
2000s 45.5% 35.1% 57.7% 3
2010s 11.4% 1.2% 28.8% 10
2020s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2

Countries ranked near China

  1. 114 Azerbaijan 0.0% compare
  2. 115 Belarus 0.0% compare
  3. 116 Iceland 0.0% compare
  4. 117 Slovenia 0.0% compare
  5. 117 Taiwan, China 0.0% compare

See the full ranking of 119 places →

More poverty & inequality data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China?
Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China was 0.0% 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 on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 99.1% in 1981.
What is the lowest share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2020.
How does China rank for share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices?
China ranks 117th out of 119 countries with data for 2021.
Is share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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 on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-on-less-than-the-lower-middle-income-poverty-line-2011-vs-2017/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices
Unit
%
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
119 places, 2,016 data points, 1963–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3.20 per day.