Population below the national poverty line
Population below the national poverty line (percentage)
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC
| Title | Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines |
| Unit of measure | Percentage |
| Source data | World Bank |
| Original data source | World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or computed by the World Bank using national (i.e., country-specific) poverty lines. |
| Statistical concepts and definition | The poverty headcount ratio is determined using national poverty lines, which vary by country to account for differences in living costs, dietary needs, and consumption patterns across rural, urban, and various geographic areas. Poverty estimates are derived from household survey data, requiring detailed income or consumption information to gauge per capita distribution accurately. These national benchmarks, tailored to each country's economic and social context, indicate the minimum income or consumption level deemed sufficient to avoid poverty. As such, national poverty lines, often based on the cost of a nutritionally adequate food bundle plus non-food necessities, provide a basis for assessing poverty relative to local standards and guiding national anti-poverty strategies. However, due to varying income levels and standards, these measures are not suitable for international comparisons but are crucial for tracking poverty trends within countries. Adjustments for inflation ensure these benchmarks remain relevant over time, although periodic recalibration may occur to reflect changing dietary and consumption trends. This series includes time-comparable estimates for each country, with data for European Union economies referring to the income year preceding the survey and for others, the year of survey data collection. |
| Relevance | The poverty rate as defined by national poverty lines reflects the share of the population that fails to meet the standard a country thinks is necessary to cover basic needs. |
| Time coverage | Annual |
| Sector coverage | Social |
| Data compilation | Weighted average |
| Relationship* | 1 |
* This field expresses the impact on vulnerability. The minus sign indicates that it has a vulnerability-decreasing impact (positive impact on resilience), and the plus sign indicates a vulnerability-increasing impact.