Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day in China
China: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day was 0.0% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day in China, 1981–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in China is 0.0%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in China peaked at 39.3% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2008.
China ranks 100th 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.
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 39.3% | — |
| 1984 | 18.7% | -52.6% |
| 1987 | 13.1% | -29.8% |
| 1990 | 14.3% | +9.4% |
| 1993 | 11.5% | -19.6% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | -50.3% |
| 1999 | 6.6% | +14.8% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | -29.8% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -93.2% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | — |
| 2011 | 0.0% | — |
| 2012 | 0.0% | — |
| 2013 | 0.0% | — |
| 2014 | 0.0% | — |
| 2015 | 0.0% | — |
| 2016 | 0.0% | — |
| 2017 | 0.0% | — |
| 2018 | 0.0% | — |
| 2019 | 0.0% | — |
| 2020 | 0.0% | — |
| 2021 | 0.0% | — |
| 2022 | 0.0% | — |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0%. (35 countries reporting)
- China's 0.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0%. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.7% | 13.1% | 39.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 5.7% | 14.3% | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 0.0% | 4.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
- 97 Sri Lanka 0.0% compare
- 98 Belgium 0.0% compare
- 99 Indonesia 0.0% compare
- 100 Albania 0.0% compare
- 100 Azerbaijan 0.0% compare
- 100 Bangladesh 0.0% compare
- 100 Belarus 0.0% compare
- 100 Bhutan 0.0% compare
- 100 Czechia 0.0% compare
- 100 Jordan 0.0% compare
- 100 Kazakhstan 0.0% compare
- 100 Malaysia 0.0% compare
- 100 Moldova 0.0% compare
- 100 Mongolia 0.0% compare
- 100 Nepal 0.0% compare
- 100 Romania 0.0% compare
- 100 Russia 0.0% compare
- 100 Slovenia 0.0% compare
- 100 South Korea 0.0% compare
- 100 Switzerland 0.0% compare
- 100 Taiwan 0.0% compare
- 100 Thailand 0.0% compare
- 100 Ukraine 0.0% compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in China?
- Poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in China was 0.0% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 1981.
- What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2008.
- How does China rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day?
- China ranks 100th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Where does this China 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 Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $1 per day.