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

India: Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 43.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
43.5%
Change on year
down 8.8%
World rank
20th
of 119 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 1977
All-time low
43.4%
in 2019
Years of data
14
1977–2021

Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in India, 1977–2021

0204060801977199920211977: 88.9 %1983: 86.3 %1987: 83.8 %1993: 82.2 %2004: 77.1 %2009: 72 %2011: 62.4 %2015: 60.4 %2016: 59.3 %2017: 53.8 %2018: 46.3 %2019: 43.4 %2020: 47.7 %2021: 43.5 %

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

Analysis

India recorded 43.5% for share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in 2021.

The figure is down 8.8% on the previous year and down 30.3% 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 India peaked at 88.9% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 43.4%, in 2019.

India ranks 20th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in India, 1977 to 2021.
Year % Change
1977 88.9%
1983 86.3% -2.9%
1987 83.8% -2.9%
1993 82.2% -1.9%
2004 77.1% -6.3%
2009 72.0% -6.6%
2011 62.4% -13.4%
2015 60.4% -3.3%
2016 59.3% -1.8%
2017 53.8% -9.3%
2018 46.3% -14.0%
2019 43.4% -6.1%
2020 47.7% +9.8%
2021 43.5% -8.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 88.9% 88.9% 88.9% 1
1980s 85.1% 83.8% 86.3% 2
1990s 82.2% 82.2% 82.2% 1
2000s 74.6% 72.0% 77.1% 2
2010s 54.2% 43.4% 62.4% 6
2020s 45.6% 43.5% 47.7% 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 17 Mali 57.6% compare
  2. 18 Togo 52.0% compare
  3. 19 Cameroon 46.7% compare
  4. 21 Benin 41.5% compare
  5. 22 Gambia 40.9% compare
  6. 23 Lao People's Democratic Republic 37.4% compare

See the full ranking of 119 places →

More poverty & inequality data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in India?
Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in India was 43.5% 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 India?
The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 1977.
What is the lowest share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 43.4% in 2019.
How does India rank for share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices?
India ranks 20th 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 India?
Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 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 India. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-on-less-than-the-lower-middle-income-poverty-line-2011-vs-2017/india/

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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.