The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Pakistan
Pakistan: The share and number of people living in extreme poverty was 23.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Pakistan, 1987–2024
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 Pakistan is 23.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Pakistan peaked at 80.6% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 16.5%, in 2018.
Pakistan ranks 20th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 80.6% | — |
| 1990 | 79.5% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 45.3% | -43.0% |
| 1998 | 50.3% | +11.0% |
| 2001 | 56.2% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 40.9% | -27.3% |
| 2005 | 40.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 34.9% | -14.6% |
| 2010 | 26.7% | -23.6% |
| 2011 | 25.9% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 21.2% | -18.1% |
| 2015 | 16.9% | -20.4% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 23.0% | +39.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 80.6% | 80.6% | 80.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 58.4% | 45.3% | 79.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 43.2% | 34.9% | 56.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 21.5% | 16.5% | 26.7% | 5 |
| 2020s | 23.0% | 23.0% | 23.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More poverty & inequality data for Pakistan
- 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 3.6 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,634 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 4.94 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.36 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.4% (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 Pakistan?
- The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Pakistan was 23.0% in 2024, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 80.6% in 1987.
- What is the lowest the share and number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.5% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for the share and number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Pakistan ranks 20th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is the share and number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.