Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in India
India: Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share was 16.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in India, 1977–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in India stood at 16.1%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 32.5% on the previous year and down 72.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in India peaked at 82.9% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2023.
India ranks 36th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 82.9% | — |
| 1983 | 78.0% | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 78.7% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 76.2% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 74.5% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 66.1% | -11.3% |
| 2011 | 57.7% | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 23.9% | -58.6% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | -32.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 16.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.5%, 72% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- India's 16.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 11.5%, 1.4× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 82.9% | 82.9% | 82.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 78.4% | 78.0% | 78.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 76.2% | 76.2% | 76.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 66.1% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 57.7% | 57.7% | 57.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 16.1% | 23.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More poverty & inequality data for India
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,632 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.8468 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 17.32 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 17.3% (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 $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in India?
- Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in India was 16.1% in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 1977.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2023.
- How does India rank for share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty?
- India ranks 36th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.1%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty. 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 $4.20 per day.