Proportion of population below the international poverty line

“Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day” figures from the World Bank Development Research Group. Underlying data provided by the ONS from the EU-Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (EU-SILC).

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Headline data

Proportion of population below the international poverty line
Year Value Units Series Observation status Unit multiplier
2004 0.4 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2005 0.5 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2006 0.2 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2007 0.3 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2008 0.3 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2009 0.2 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2010 0.1 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2011 0.4 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2012 0.2 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2013 0.2 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2014 0.2 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2015 0.1 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units
2016 0.2 Percentage (%) Proportion of population below international poverty line Estimated value Units

Source: World Bank

Geographical Area: United Kingdom

Unit of Measurement: Percentage (%)

Footnote:

As differences in the cost of living across the world evolve, the international poverty line has to be periodically updated using new PPP price data to reflect these changes. The last change was in October 2015, when the World Bank adopted $1.90 as the international poverty line using the 2011 PPP. Prior to that, the 2008 update set the international poverty line at $1.25 using the 2005 PPP.

Please note the y axis does not go to 100% for ease of visualisation.

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Proportion of population below the international poverty line
Indicator description

Proportion of population below the international poverty line is defined as the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices. The ‘international poverty line’ is currently set at $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices.
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Unit of measurement

Percentage (%)
Definitions

The ‘international poverty line’ is currently set at $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices. Purchasing power parity (PPP) is a measurement of prices in different countries that uses the prices of specific goods to compare the absolute purchasing power of the countries’ currencies.
Available disaggregations
Calculations

None
Other information

For the main UK data series on low income households see the Households below average income (HBAI) statistics. Please note that the HBAI statistics should not be compared to those living under the international poverty line, however they may give a more representative view of low income households in the United Kingdom. Data follows the UN specification for this indicator. This indicator has not been identified in collaboration with topic experts.
Data last updated 11 November 2021
Metadata last updated 21 March 2022

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographic location (urban/rural)
Target name

By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
Global indicator description
UN designated tier

Tier I
UN custodian agency

World Bank (WB), International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 1.1 opens in a new window
Organisation

World Bank
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

2004
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) opens in a new window
Release date 28 May 2020
Next release

TBA
Statistical classification

Non-official
Contact details

Research@WorldBank.org
Other information
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