Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 38.9% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Sri Lanka, 1985–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Sri Lanka is 38.9%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 32.9% 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 Sri Lanka peaked at 81.9% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 38.9%, in 2019.
That places Sri Lanka 42nd out of 119 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 81.9% | — |
| 1990 | 81.4% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 76.1% | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 70.1% | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 61.0% | -13.0% |
| 2009 | 57.9% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 51.7% | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 42.0% | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 38.9% | -7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 81.9% | 81.9% | 81.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 78.7% | 76.1% | 81.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 63.0% | 57.9% | 70.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 44.2% | 38.9% | 51.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 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 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,804 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 25.42 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 9.85 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 9.8% (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 Sri Lanka?
- Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in Sri Lanka was 38.9% in 2019, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 81.9% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.9% in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices?
- Sri Lanka ranks 42nd out of 119 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.