As of 2022, the poverty rate was projected at **** percent in Egypt. This was nearly *** percentage points less than the year before. Overall, from 2018 onwards, the poverty rate dropped to **** percent in 2019, before increasing again to about ** percent in 2020. Since 2020, projected poverty rates have followed a declining trend. They are expected to decrease further in 2023. The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic contributed to the increase of the poverty rate in 2020. Adjusted national poverty lines National poverty lines are calculated based on consumption patterns of households in the country and are therefore adjustable over the years. Egypt’s national poverty line stood at ****** Egyptian pounds (comparable to ****** U.S. dollars) annually as of 2019/2020. This was an increase from ***** Egyptian pounds (****** U.S. dollars) ten years prior. In November 2016, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) declared that it fully floated the Egyptian pound, causing the currency devaluation.   Poverty more prevalent among larger households Poverty rates in the country were higher in households with more individuals. In households with *** or more members, the rate was as high as **** percent in 2019/2020. On the other hand, the poverty rate was significantly lower among households with *** to ***** members. Moreover, Rural Egypt had a higher share of population considered poor compared to Urban Egypt. In fact, in its rural areas in Upper Egypt, the poverty rate reached nearly ** percent.   

In 2021, there were **** million people in poverty in Egypt. This was a drop of *** million compared to the previous year. The population living under the national poverty line dropped to **** million in 2019 before an increment of *** million in 2020, probably due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % of Rural Population data was reported at 32.300 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.900 % for 2008. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % of Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 27.850 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2010, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.300 % in 2010 and a record low of 22.100 % in 2000. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % of Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank: Poverty. Rural poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the rural population living below the national poverty lines.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 27.800 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 26.300 % for 2012. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 23.400 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.800 % in 2015 and a record low of 16.700 % in 1999. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty lines. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

As of 2019/2020, the poverty rate was ***** percent of the total population in Egypt. This was **** percentage points lower than in 2017/2018. Overall, since 1999/2000 the poverty rate followed an increasing trend, up from **** percent that year, dropping only 2019/2020.

Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data was reported at 15.300 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.000 % for 2008. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 10.550 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2010, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.300 % in 2010 and a record low of 9.300 % in 2000. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Urban poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the urban population living below the national poverty lines.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

As of 2019/2020, the poverty rate was at **** percent of the total population in Egypt. Rural areas in Upper Egypt had the largest share of people under the poverty line, nearly ** percent. Moreover, Rural areas in Lower Egypt followed with ** percent of the population being categorized as poor. Urban areas in lower Egypt had the lowest share of poor population with almost **** percent..

Poverty ratio at national poverty line of Egypt rocketed by 16.91% from 27.8 % in 2015 to 32.5 % in 2017. Since the 16.91% jump in 2017, poverty ratio at national poverty line remained stable by 0.00% in 2017. National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty lines. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.

The report, the first in an ongoing program, presents the results of a statistical analysis of household-level data for the periods 1995/1996, and 1999/2000, as a contribution to the preparation of a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy in Egypt. Despite considerable progress towards improving some of the non-income dimensions of poverty, more needs to be done to ease poverty. The main findings suggest a changing picture of poverty in the country, where poverty patterns changed from the urban-rural divide that had characterized the past, to a geographical/regional pattern, highlighting the lack of education as the strongest correlate of poverty. Statistics show that while inequality rose slightly for Egypt as a whole, the level was still comparable to other middle income countries; unemployment was high in urban areas; and, gender differences in poverty were small at an overall level, but were significant across regions, particularly in rural areas. Given the changing, complex picture of poverty in Egypt, a poverty reduction strategy will have to be comprehensive, yet flexible, hence, the report suggests a more sustainable growth in jobs, productivity, and incomes for the poorest; improved educational opportunities both for men, and women; reversal of growing, regional disparities in incomes, opportunities, and services; and, provision of safety nets that protect the most vulnerable.

1.40 (%) in 2021. Population below $1.9 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.9 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Historical dataset showing Egypt poverty rate by year from 1990 to 2021.

Contains data from the World Bank's data portal. There is also a consolidated country dataset on HDX.

For countries with an active poverty monitoring program, the World Bank—in collaboration with national institutions, other development agencies, and civil society—regularly conducts analytical work to assess the extent and causes of poverty and inequality, examine the impact of growth and public policy, and review household survey data and measurement methods. Data here includes poverty and inequality measures generated from analytical reports, from national poverty monitoring programs, and from the World Bank’s Development Research Group which has been producing internationally comparable and global poverty estimates and lines since 1990.

As of 2019/2020, an individual living in Egypt with less than ****** Egyptian pounds (around ****** U.S. dollars) per year was considered poor. Compared to the previous year, this was an increment from ***** Egyptian pounds (****** U.S. dollars). The national poverty line in the country grew by over ** percent between 2015 and 2017/2018. In November 2016, the Central Bank of Egypt announced that it had fully floated the Egyptian pound.

Egypt Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 21.400 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.700 % for 2017. Egypt Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 23.100 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.800 % in 1990 and a record low of 18.300 % in 2012. Egypt Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

72.6 (%) in 2017. Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Egypt Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data was reported at 2.300 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.500 % for 2017. Egypt Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.900 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2019, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.500 % in 2017 and a record low of 2.300 % in 2019. Egypt Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (World Bank) is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Multidimensional Poverty Measure. The Multidimensional Poverty Measure includes three dimensions – monetary poverty, education, and basic infrastructure services – to capture a more complete picture of poverty.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Number of poor at $3.2 a day of Egypt shot up by 69.05% from 16.8 million persons in 2015 to 28.4 million persons in 2017. Since the 16.33% slump in 2012, number of poor at $3.2 a day soared by 73.17% in 2017. Number of people living on less than $3.20 a day at 2011 international prices. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).

Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 61.900 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 70.300 % for 2012. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 73.900 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.000 % in 1995 and a record low of 61.900 % in 2015. Egypt EG: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

The incidence of poverty increases in Egypt as the number of household members grows. Nearly 81 percent of the households with ten or more people were living under the national poverty line in 2019/2020. This was higher than both in 2015 and 2017/2018. In comparison, only 7.5 percent of the households with one to three members were poor in 2019/2020.

Unemployment Rate in Egypt decreased to 6.10 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 6.30 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - Egypt Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.