Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ireland
Ireland: Number of people living in extreme poverty was 4,372 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ireland, 1987–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in extreme poverty in Ireland is 4,372 people, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 58.2% on the previous year and down 87.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty in Ireland peaked at 46,021 people in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2,608 people, in 2005.
Ireland ranks 108th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 46,021 people | 46,021 people | 46,021 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 12,024 people | 7,275 people | 14,435 people | 3 |
| 2000s | 10,618 people | 2,608 people | 26,195 people | 9 |
| 2010s | 20,337 people | 2,804 people | 34,263 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,686 people | 4,372 people | 10,470 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More poverty & inequality data for Ireland
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.6 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,325 kg per hectare (2024)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 21.9% (2023)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.054 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 8.7% (2023)
- Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient in women 0.0763 (2023)
- Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient by sex 0.0763 (2023)
- Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient in men 0.0878 (2023)
- Income inequality: Atkinson index 0.1396 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in extreme poverty in Ireland?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ireland was 4,372 people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 46,021 people in 1987.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,608 people in 2005.
- How does Ireland rank for number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Ireland ranks 108th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 87.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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 Number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.