The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: The share and number of people living in extreme poverty was 42.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling
The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso, 1994–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso is 42.1%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.8% on the previous year and down 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso peaked at 87.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 42.1%, in 2021.
That places Burkina Faso 10th out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 87.6% | — |
| 1998 | 86.4% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 69.6% | -19.4% |
| 2009 | 67.2% | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 58.7% | -12.6% |
| 2018 | 47.7% | -18.8% |
| 2021 | 42.1% | -11.8% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 42.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 42.1%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 42.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.8%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 87.0% | 86.4% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 68.4% | 67.2% | 69.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 53.2% | 47.7% | 58.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More poverty & inequality data for Burkina Faso
- 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 4.19 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,198 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 -1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 18.4 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 18.4% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso?
- The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Burkina Faso was 42.1% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest the share and number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 87.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest the share and number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 2021.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for the share and number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Burkina Faso ranks 10th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is the share and number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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 The share and number of people living in extreme 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 $3 per day.