In 2022, approximately 9.5 percent of the Ecuadorian population was living on less than 3.65 U.S. dollars per day, down from 10.9 in the previous year. Social inequality remains a challenge in Ecuador.

Through the displayed period, the share of people living under extreme poverty conditions in Ecuador has displayed variations, peaking in 2020 and subsequently declining to *** percent in 2022.

Historical chart and dataset showing Ecuador poverty rate by year from 1987 to 2023.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Ecuador was reported at 26 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ecuador - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Ecuador Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 26.700 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 27.500 % for 2022. Ecuador Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 28.900 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.600 % in 2000 and a record low of 25.900 % in 2016. Ecuador 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 Ecuador – Table EC.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).

In Ecuador, the share of the indigenous population in 2023 that had an average per capita income below the poverty line reached almost 50 percent. In comparison to the previous year, this represents a slight decrease. The country had also one of the highest share of indigenous population living in extreme poverty in the region.

Poverty rate at $1.9 a day of Ecuador jumped by 6.82% from 4.40 % in 2022 to 4.70 % in 2023. Since the 36.90% drop in 2021, poverty rate at $1.9 a day dropped by 11.32% in 2023. 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.

Poverty and population data for cantons and parishes in Ecuador

Rural poverty rate of Ecuador sank by 15.95% from 42.0 % in 2013 to 35.3 % in 2014. Since the 1.16% growth in 2007, rural poverty rate plummeted by 42.41% in 2014. Rural poverty rate is the percentage of the rural population living below the national rural poverty line.

Over the displayed period, the share of people living under poverty conditions in Ecuador has exhibited fluctuations, reaching its peak in 2020 and subsequently decreasing to 26 percent in 2023.

4.70 (%) in 2023. 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.

Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: % data was reported at 8.500 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.900 % for 2014. Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: % data is updated yearly, averaging 10.800 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.300 % in 2007 and a record low of 7.900 % in 2014. Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Poverty gap at national poverty lines is the mean shortfall from the poverty lines (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall) as a percentage of the poverty lines. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; 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.

10.00 (%) in 2023. 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.

2.6 (%) in 2014. Population below $1.90 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices.

The poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Ecuador declined to 25.2 percent in 2022. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher poverty headcount ratio than the preceding years.The poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines refers to the share of the population living in poverty, based on parameters set by local, regional, or national governments.Find more key insights for the poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in countries like Bolivia and Peru.

Poverty mapping, unsatisfied basic needs database

Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % data was reported at 5.100 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.400 % for 2013. Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % data is updated yearly, averaging 6.550 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2014, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.800 % in 2009 and a record low of 5.100 % in 2014. Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.World Bank: Poverty. Urban poverty gap at national poverty lines is the urban population's mean shortfall from the poverty lines (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall) as a percentage of the poverty lines. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; 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.

Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % data was reported at 13.600 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16.400 % for 2013. Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % data is updated yearly, averaging 21.850 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2014, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.100 % in 2007 and a record low of 13.600 % in 2014. Ecuador EC: Poverty Gap at National Poverty Lines: Rural: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Rural poverty gap at national poverty lines is the rural population's mean shortfall from the poverty lines (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall) as a percentage of the poverty lines. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; 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.

Ecuador EC: Income Share Held by Second 20% data was reported at 9.400 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.100 % for 2015. Ecuador EC: Income Share Held by Second 20% data is updated yearly, averaging 8.100 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2016, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.400 % in 2016 and a record low of 6.500 % in 1999. Ecuador EC: Income Share Held by Second 20% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.; ; 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. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Ecuador EC: Multidimensional Poverty Intensity (average share of deprivations experienced by the poor) data was reported at 49.300 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 50.300 % for 2021. Ecuador EC: Multidimensional Poverty Intensity (average share of deprivations experienced by the poor) data is updated yearly, averaging 49.300 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2022, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.120 % in 2010 and a record low of 48.150 % in 2016. Ecuador EC: Multidimensional Poverty Intensity (average share of deprivations experienced by the poor) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;