Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India
India: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day was 23.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India, 1977–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India stood at 23.9%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 58.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India peaked at 82.9% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 2022.
That places India 30th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 82.9% | — |
| 1983 | 78.0% | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 78.7% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 76.2% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 74.5% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 66.1% | -11.3% |
| 2011 | 57.7% | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 23.9% | -58.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 23.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.5%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- India's 23.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 11.5%, 2.1× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 82.9% | 82.9% | 82.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 78.4% | 78.0% | 78.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 76.2% | 76.2% | 76.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 66.1% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 57.7% | 57.7% | 57.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 23.9% | 23.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 27 Philippines 29.3% compare
- 28 Guinea 29.2% compare
- 29 Mauritania 26.0% compare
- 31 Honduras 23.5% compare
- 32 Laos 22.5% compare
- 33 Bangladesh 20.5% compare
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India?
- Poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in India was 23.9% 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 $4.20 a day recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 1977.
- What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 2022.
- How does India rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day?
- India ranks 30th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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 $4.20 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 $4.20 per day.