Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia
Australia: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 230,843 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia, 1981–2020
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 total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia is 230,843 people, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of up 54.1% on the previous year and up 109.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia peaked at 230,843 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 106,246 people, in 2008.
Australia ranks 59th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 164,156 people | — |
| 1985 | 173,671 people | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 134,515 people | -22.5% |
| 1995 | 180,049 people | +33.9% |
| 2001 | 173,472 people | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 216,928 people | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 139,529 people | -35.7% |
| 2008 | 106,246 people | -23.9% |
| 2010 | 110,159 people | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 140,854 people | +27.9% |
| 2016 | 120,955 people | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 149,780 people | +23.8% |
| 2020 | 230,843 people | +54.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 157,447 people | 134,515 people | 173,671 people | 3 |
| 1990s | 180,049 people | 180,049 people | 180,049 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 159,044 people | 106,246 people | 216,928 people | 4 |
| 2010s | 130,437 people | 110,159 people | 149,780 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 230,843 people | 230,843 people | 230,843 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 56 El Salvador 292,567 people compare
- 57 United Kingdom 267,936 people compare
- 58 Bolivia 254,499 people compare
- 60 Kyrgyzstan 157,989 people compare
- 61 Georgia 156,464 people compare
- 62 Turkey 149,369 people compare
More poverty & inequality data for Australia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 3 surveys (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,690 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 -0.0446 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 30.36 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 30.4% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2022)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.056 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Australia was 230,843 people in 2020, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 230,843 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 106,246 people in 2008.
- How does Australia rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- Australia ranks 59th out of 120 countries with data for 2020.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 109.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia 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 Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.