Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China
China: Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 9.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China, 1981–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 9.4% for share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 39.0% on the previous year and down 81.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China peaked at 100.0% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2021.
That places China 69th out of 119 countries with data for 2021, 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 on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 100.0% | — |
| 1984 | 99.8% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 98.8% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 98.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 96.5% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 92.3% | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 88.9% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 80.7% | -9.2% |
| 2005 | 70.4% | -12.8% |
| 2008 | 60.5% | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 53.4% | -11.7% |
| 2011 | 49.2% | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 44.5% | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 36.3% | -18.3% |
| 2014 | 31.6% | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 27.4% | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 24.1% | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 22.3% | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 15.8% | -16.2% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | -39.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 99.6% | 98.8% | 100.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 94.0% | 88.9% | 98.1% | 4 |
| 2000s | 70.5% | 60.5% | 80.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 32.3% | 15.8% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.4% | 9.4% | 15.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
- 66 Albania 12.6% compare
- 67 Montenegro 10.2% compare
- 68 Costa Rica 9.9% compare
- 70 Bhutan 7.8% compare
- 71 Azerbaijan 7.0% compare
- 72 Uzbekistan 6.6% compare
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 on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China?
- Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in China was 9.4% 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 upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1981.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2021.
- How does China rank for share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices?
- China ranks 69th out of 119 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.0%. 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 upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $5.50 per day.