Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Pakistan was reported at 21.9 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Poverty rate at national poverty line of Pakistan slumped by 9.88% from 24.3 % in 2015 to 21.9 % in 2018. Since the 19.60% drop in 2004, poverty rate at national poverty line sank by 57.64% in 2018. National poverty rate is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.

Historical dataset showing Pakistan poverty rate by year from 1987 to 2018.

Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 24.300 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.500 % for 2013. Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 44.100 % from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 64.300 % in 2001 and a record low of 24.300 % in 2015. Pakistan PK: 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 Pakistan – Table PK.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.

Poverty rate at $3.2 a day of Pakistan fell by 0.22% from 44.80 % in 2015 to 44.70 % in 2018. Since the 0.73% upward trend in 2005, poverty rate at $3.2 a day plummeted by 35.22% in 2018. Population below $3.1 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.1 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.

Pakistan Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 27.900 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.600 % for 2015. Pakistan Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 38.000 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2018, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.300 % in 1987 and a record low of 27.900 % in 2018. Pakistan 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 Pakistan – Table PK.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).

44.70 (%) in 2018. Population below $3.1 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.1 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.

Poverty ratio at national poverty line of Pakistan sank by 17.63% from 29.5 % in 2013 to 24.3 % in 2015. Since the 19.60% slump in 2004, poverty ratio at national poverty line plummeted by 53.00% in 2015. 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.

Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data was reported at 18.200 % in 2013. Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 18.200 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2013, with 1 observations. Pakistan PK: 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 Pakistan – Table PK.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.

Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 39.700 % in 2013. This records a decrease from the previous number of 46.400 % for 2011. Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 60.400 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2013, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 87.900 % in 1987 and a record low of 39.700 % in 2013. Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.20 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 Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.20 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.

4.4 (%) in 2018. Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 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.

Pakistan PK: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 0.500 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.900 % for 2013. Pakistan PK: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 2.650 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.600 % in 1987 and a record low of 0.500 % in 2015. Pakistan PK: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank: Poverty. Poverty gap at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $1.90 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence. 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.

76.2 (%) in 2018. 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.

Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index is a new measure to compute acute poverty. The MPI complements consumption-based poverty measures by reflecting deprivations that individuals face in other dimensions such as education, health and standard of living. The MPI captures the severe deprivations that each person experiences with respect to education, health and standard of living. MPI is the product of two components: 1) Incidence of poverty (H): the percentage of people who are identified as multidimensionally poor, or the poverty headcount. 2) Intensity of poverty (A): the average percentage of dimensions in which poor people are deprived. In simple terms it means how intense, how bad the multidimensional poverty is, on average, for those who are poor. Based on the index values for the latest year (2014/15), the five districts with the highest MPI are Killa Abdullah, Harnai, Barkhan, Kohistan and Ziarat. Most of these districts also have the highest levels of the incidence (headcount) and intensity of poverty in all of Pakistan. On the other hand, the six districts with the lowest index value are Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Attock. These districts also have the lowest poverty headcounts in the country. Data Sources: Data is taken from the report on Multidimensional Poverty which has been developed in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan. Data Accusation Method: The methodology used to determine Pakistan's MPI is adopted from Alkire and Santos' (2010, 2014) work on the global MPI, undertaken in collaboration with UNDP. Time Period: 2014/15 Definition of variables Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index is represented by "MPI_incide" field. Introduction about Data: This map allows to explore Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index at district level of Pakistan.

Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 75.400 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 79.500 % for 2013. Pakistan PK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 87.600 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 96.900 % in 1990 and a record low of 75.400 % in 2015. Pakistan PK: 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 Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank.WDI: 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.

Pakistan: Poverty, percent of population: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Pakistan de 2001 à 2018. La valeur moyenne pour Pakistan pendant cette période était de 39.92 pour cent avec un minimum de 21.9 pour cent en 2018 et un maximum de 64.3 pour cent en 2001.

Pakistan PK: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data was reported at 33.500 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 30.700 % for 2013. Pakistan PK: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 32.050 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.500 % in 2015 and a record low of 28.700 % in 1996. Pakistan PK: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. 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).; ; 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. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Abstract

The Pakistan Social & Living Standards Measurement Survey 2018-2019 is the main mechanism to provide data for: - Monitoring development plans at district level. - Assessment of programs initiated under Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). - Planners / Policy Makers, Research workers, Statisticians and National / International Organizations use the data. - Estimation of Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) from PSLM district level survey. - Estimation of consumption based poverty (CBN from PSLM/ HIES Provincial level survey.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals

Universe

The universe for survey consists of all urban and rural areas of the four provinces of Pakistan, excluded military restricted areas. The areas of erstwhile FATA have now been covered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

For the 2018-2019 Pakistan Social and Living Measurement Survey stratified two-stage sample design has been adopted for the survey.

Sampling Frame The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has developed its own urban area frame. Each city or town is divided into enumeration blocks. Each enumeration block is comprised to 200-250 houses on the average with well-defined boundaries and maps. In urban areas each enumeration block is treated as PSU while in rural areas villages are divided into blocks with well-defined boundaries and maps and each separate block within village is considered as PSU.

Stratification Plan - Urban Domain: For urban domain, each administrative division for all four provinces has been considered as an independent stratum. - Rural Domain: For rural domain, each administrative district in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and each administrative division in Balochistan, has been considered as an independent stratum. - Selection of primary sampling units (PSUs): Enumeration blocks in both Urban and rural domains are taken as Primary Sampling Units (PSUs). Sample PSUs from each ultimate stratum/sub-stratum are selected with probability proportional to size (PPS) method of sampling scheme. In both Urban and Rural domains, the number of households in an enumeration block has been taken as measure of size. - Selection of secondary sampling units (SSUs): The households of sample PSUs have been taken as Secondary Sampling Units (SSUs). 12 and 16 households have been selected from urban and rural domains respectively by using systematic sampling technique.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

There are two structured questionnaires (one for males and another one for females). The topics of the questionnaires include: - Demographic characteristics - Education - Health - Population welfare - Household characteristics - Water sanitation and hygiene - Household income, consumption and expenditure - Household assets, household amenities - Saving and liabilities

Incorporated Modules: - Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) - Out of pocket health expenditure

Pakistan PK: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at 2.820 % in 2013. Pakistan PK: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 2.820 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2013, with 1 observations. Pakistan PK: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank: Poverty. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the bottom 40% is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the bottom 40% of the population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2011 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The final year refers to the most recent survey available between 2011 and 2015. Growth rates for Iraq are based on survey means of 2005 PPP$. The coverage and quality of the 2011 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2011 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See PovcalNet for detailed explanations.; ; World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) circa 2010-2015 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).; ; The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.

The percentage of efficient POs based on OTE (CRS), PTE (VRS) and scale efficiency.