Total population in extreme poverty in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Total population in extreme poverty was 267,936 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total population in extreme poverty in United Kingdom, 1968–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in extreme poverty in United Kingdom is 267,936, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.7% on the previous year and up 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in extreme poverty in United Kingdom peaked at 333,720 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1973.
United Kingdom ranks 57th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 110,654 | 110,423 | 110,884 | 2 |
| 1970s | 72,969 | 0 | 112,460 | 10 |
| 1980s | 73,619 | 56,314 | 170,044 | 10 |
| 1990s | 127,769 | 57,248 | 231,463 | 10 |
| 2000s | 193,510 | 176,678 | 249,105 | 10 |
| 2010s | 227,291 | 128,278 | 266,524 | 10 |
| 2020s | 300,828 | 267,936 | 333,720 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom
- Data deprivation poverty surveys per decade 6 (2025)
- Fertility rate vs the share living in extreme poverty 1.56 (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty 7,138 (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality 34.91 (2023)
- Gender inequality index from the human development report 0.083 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in gdp vs share in extreme poverty 21.15 (2023)
- Gini coefficient of lifespan inequality in females 0.0826 (2023)
- Gini coefficient of lifespan inequality by sex 0.0826 (2023)
- Gini coefficient of lifespan inequality in males 0.0966 (2023)
- Income inequality atkinson index undp 0.167 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in extreme poverty in United Kingdom?
- Total population in extreme poverty in United Kingdom was 267,936 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population in extreme poverty recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 333,720 in 2020.
- What is the lowest total population in extreme poverty recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1973.
- How does United Kingdom rank for total population in extreme poverty?
- United Kingdom ranks 57th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total population in extreme poverty rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Total population in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).