Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Total shortfall from extreme poverty was 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia, 1995–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2021, total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia stood at 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia peaked at 20.15 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1995 and was at its lowest, 8.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2004.
That places Ethiopia 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 20.15 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1999 | 15.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 8.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -43.9% |
| 2010 | 10.49 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +20.3% |
| 2015 | 11.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +30.2% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.50 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 3.2× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.29 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 4.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.85 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 20.15 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.49 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 11.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 1 Nigeria 32.19 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 2 Mozambique 16.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 4 Pakistan 14.32 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 5 India 12.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 6 Uganda 11.20 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More poverty & inequality data for Ethiopia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 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 3.99 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,632 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 -0.9299 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via -50 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.497 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 10.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia?
- Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ethiopia was 14.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.15 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1995.
- What is the lowest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2004.
- How does Ethiopia rank for total shortfall from extreme poverty?
- Ethiopia ranks 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total shortfall from extreme poverty rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 shortfall from extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This is the amount of money that would be theoretically needed to lift the income or consumption of all people in poverty up to $3 per day. However, this is not a measure of the actual cost of eliminating poverty, since it does not take into account the costs involved in making the necessary transfers nor any changes in behavior they would bring about.