Information
Full name
Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line
Short name
Living below the international poverty line
Code
PovertyBelowIntLine
Definition
Aligned with SDG 1.1.1 indicator, which defined as the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day based on 2021 purchasing power parities (PPP).
In practice, international poverty lines vary by country depending on the country classification applicable in the survey year (see World Bank country classification). The $3.00 per person per day line is applied for low-income countries, US$4.20 for lower-middle-income countries and US$8.30 for upper-middle- and high-income countries.
Rationale
National poverty lines vary across countries and time, and they have a strong economic gradient, such that richer countries tend to adopt higher standards of living when defining poverty. PPPs are used to convert national poverty lines and the value of household incomes and consumption to a common currency across countries, while capturing differences in living costs around the world.
Since 1990, the World Bank has produced global estimates of the population living in extreme poverty. This benchmark is derived from poverty thresholds in the world’s poorest countries and reflects the minimum resources required to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. The international poverty line has been integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals as a key indicator for monitoring progress in poverty reduction.
Applying the international poverty line to forcibly displaced and stateless populations provides a consistent basis for cross-country comparisons and global benchmarking. It highlights disparities in living standards among forcibly displaced and stateless populations. Moreover, this approach enables both humanitarian and development actors to assess refugees’ socio-economic conditions, informing evidence-based program design and resource allocation.
Method of computation
The proportion of the population living on less than the applicable poverty line (e.g. $3.00 a day in low-income countries based on 2021 PPPs).
The formula for calculating the proportion of the population living below the poverty line, or headcount index, is as follows:
P0=1N0∑Ni=1l(yi<z)=NpNP0=1N0∑i=1Nlyi<z=NpN
Where 𝐼(. ) is an indicator function that takes on a value of 1 if the bracketed expression is true, and 0 otherwise. If individual consumption or income 𝑦𝑖 is less than the international poverty line 𝑧, then 𝐼(. ) is equal to 1 and the individual is counted as poor. 𝑁𝑝 is the total, number of poor. 𝑁 is the total population.
Comparability
International definition and standards
Relationships
| Framework | Indicator | Comparability |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainible Development Goals Indicators | Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographic location | Comparable |
Limitations
The timeliness, frequency, quality, and comparability of household surveys need to increase substantially, particularly in the poorest countries. The availability and quality of poverty monitoring data remain low in small states, countries with fragile situations, and low-income countries and even some middle-income countries. The low frequency and lack of comparability of the data available in some countries create uncertainty over the magnitude of poverty reduction.
Besides the frequency and timeliness of survey data, other data quality issues arise in measuring household living standards. The surveys ask detailed questions on sources of income and how it was spent, which must be carefully recorded by trained personnel. Income is generally more difficult to measure accurately, and consumption comes closer to the notion of living standards. And income can vary over time even if living standards do not. But consumption data are not always available: the latest estimates reported here use consumption data for about two-thirds of countries.
However, even similar surveys may not be strictly comparable because of differences in timing or in the quality and training of enumerators. Comparisons of countries at different levels of development also pose a potential problem because of differences in the relative importance of the consumption of nonmarket goods. The local market value of in-kind consumption (including own production, particularly important in underdeveloped rural economies) should be included in total consumption expenditure but may not be. Most survey data now include valuations for consumption or income from own production, but valuation methods vary.
Data Sources
Chile: Encuesta de Caracterización Socioeconómica Nacional (CASEN) – 2022
GOVT_CHL_2022_CASEN
2022
Chile
Census or national survey
Gov't. of Chile
Cameroon: Forced Displacement Survey – Consumption Module (FDS‑CM) – 2025
GOVT_CMR_2025_FDS
2025
Cameroon
Census or national survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Gov't. of Cameroon
Colombia: Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares (GEIH) – 2023
GOVT_COL_2023_GEIH
2023
Colombia
Census or national survey
Gov't. of Colombia
Costa Rica: Encuesta Nacional de Hogares (ENAHO) – 2022
GOVT_CRI_2022_ENAHO
2022
Costa Rica
Census or national survey
Gov't. of Costa Rica
Niger: Enquête Harmonisée sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages (EHCVM) – 2018
GOVT_NER_2018_EHCVM
2018
Niger
Census or national survey
Gov't. of Niger
Chad: Economie et le Secteur Informel et Travail (ECOSIT 5) - 2022
GOVT_TCD_2022_ECOSIT5
2022
Chad
Census or national survey
Gov't. of Chad
Uganda: Refugee and Host Communities Household Survey – 2018
GOVT_UGA_2018_HHSurvey
2018
Uganda
Census or national survey
The World Bank, Gov't. of Uganda
Jordan: Vulnerability Assessment Framework – 2023
UNHCR_JOR_2023_VAF
2023
Jordan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Ethiopia: Socio‑Economic Survey of Refugees in Ethiopia (SESRE) – 2023
WB_ETH_2023_SESRE
2023
Ethiopia
Probability survey
The World Bank
Lebanon Household Survey (LHS) – 2022
WB_LBN_2022_LHS
2022
Lebanon
Probability survey
The World Bank