Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 267,936 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
267,936 people
Change on year
down 19.7%
World rank
57th
of 120 countries
All-time high
333,720 people
in 2020
All-time low
0 people
in 1973
Years of data
54
1968–2021
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1968–2021
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 267,936 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 19.7% on the previous year and up 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 333,720 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1973.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 110,423 people | — |
| 1969 | 110,884 people | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 55,663 people | -49.8% |
| 1971 | 55,896 people | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 112,172 people | +100.7% |
| 1973 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1974 | 112,460 people | — |
| 1975 | 112,452 people | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 56,212 people | -50.0% |
| 1977 | 112,387 people | +99.9% |
| 1978 | 56,197 people | -50.0% |
| 1979 | 56,247 people | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 56,314 people | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 56,334 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 56,314 people | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 56,333 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 56,422 people | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 56,550 people | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 170,044 people | +200.7% |
| 1987 | 56,802 people | -66.6% |
| 1988 | 56,928 people | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 114,153 people | +100.5% |
| 1990 | 57,248 people | -49.8% |
| 1991 | 57,425 people | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 57,580 people | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 115,437 people | +100.5% |
| 1994 | 231,463 people | +100.5% |
| 1995 | 174,057 people | -24.8% |
| 1996 | 116,334 people | -33.2% |
| 1997 | 116,634 people | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 175,461 people | +50.4% |
| 1999 | 176,047 people | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 176,678 people | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 177,359 people | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 178,111 people | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 178,943 people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 179,964 people | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 181,204 people | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 182,540 people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 183,967 people | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 247,228 people | +34.4% |
| 2009 | 249,105 people | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 188,299 people | -24.4% |
| 2011 | 189,776 people | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 254,844 people | +34.3% |
| 2013 | 128,278 people | -49.7% |
| 2014 | 258,480 people | +101.5% |
| 2015 | 195,264 people | -24.5% |
| 2016 | 262,428 people | +34.4% |
| 2017 | 263,864 people | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 265,156 people | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 266,524 people | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 333,720 people | +25.2% |
| 2021 | 267,936 people | -19.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 110,654 people | 110,423 people | 110,884 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 72,969 people | 0 people | 112,460 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 73,619 people | 56,314 people | 170,044 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 127,769 people | 57,248 people | 231,463 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 193,510 people | 176,678 people | 249,105 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 227,291 people | 128,278 people | 266,524 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 300,828 people | 267,936 people | 333,720 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 54 Nicaragua 398,591 people compare
- 55 Spain 393,304 people compare
- 56 El Salvador 292,567 people compare
- 58 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 254,499 people compare
- 59 Australia 230,843 people compare
- 60 Kyrgyzstan 157,989 people compare
More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 6 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 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,138 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 -7.54 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.91 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population living in extreme poverty by world region in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 267,936 people in 2021, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 333,720 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1973.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 57th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 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 of Great Britain and Northern 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 Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. 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.