What is the $1.90 poverty line, and based on this new measure, how many people are living in extreme poverty in the world?

← Poverty Data
The new global poverty line is set at $1.90 using 2011 prices. Just over 900 million people globally lived under this line in 2012 (based on the latest available data), and we project that in 2015, just over 700 million are living in extreme poverty.

Thank you for visiting the World Bank's Data Help Desk. Please review the terms of use for this website. Your continued use of this website constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Developer Info

Poverty Data

  1. Why did the World Bank decide to update the International Poverty Line?
  2. What is the $1.90 poverty line, and based on this new measure, how many people are living in extreme poverty in the world?
  3. How is the global poverty line derived? How is it different from national poverty lines?
  4. Should I use national or international poverty lines?
  5. Why raise the poverty line to $1.90 a day? What was wrong with the $1.25 a day line that we are all used to?
  6. What does the new $1.90 a day poverty line mean for previous estimates?
  7. Should the $1.90 a day poverty line be used to plan programs and policies in a specific country?
  8. Doesn’t the international poverty line put too much emphasis on money? What about the other dimensions of poverty?
  9. There are multiple international poverty lines. Which one should I use?
  10. If poverty rates are not available for all countries in a given year, how are global and regional poverty statistics calculated?

Feedback and Knowledge Base

(thinking…)