society

Poverty headcount

Share of people living below the World Bank international poverty line.

0.1%Belgium · 20230.1%
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Data insight

Global perspective

The world estimate was 3.7% in 2025, down 53.3% from 2015. Across the longer period from 2005, the global estimate changed by -18.6% (-83.2%). Latest country observations range from 0.0% in Algeria (2011) to 85.3% in Congo, Dem. Rep. (2020), with the middle country observation at 2.5%; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, Africa reports 5.1%, while Europe reports 0.4%. Over roughly a decade, Africa changed by -31.7%; Europe changed by -0.4%. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +19.2% in Yemen, Rep., while the largest decrease was -91.0% in Uzbekistan. Coverage includes 168 countries; their latest observation years span 1992-2025, with a median latest year of 2021.

Belgium over time

Belgium reports 0.1% in 2023. Belgium was unchanged from 2013 to 2023. From 2003 to 2023, Belgium decreased by 0.3 percentage points (75.0%). The latest decade changed by 0 percentage points, versus −0.3 percentage points in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.

Europe and world context

This is 0.3 percentage points below Europe (2023). This is 3 percentage points below the world estimate (2023). From 2013 to 2023, Europe decreased by 0.4 percentage points (51.3%). The latest decade changed by −0.4 percentage points, versus −0.6 percentage points in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.

Belgium has the 143rd-highest latest observation among 168 countries and 28th among 39 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 1992-2025, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.

  • Regional spread: Africa is at 5.1% (2024), compared with 0.4% in Europe (2023).
  • Largest observed decade increase: Yemen, Rep. changed by +19.2%.
  • Largest observed decade decrease: Uzbekistan changed by -91.0%.
  • Coverage: 168 countries; the median latest observation is 2021, with latest country observations spanning 1992-2025.
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Up to 0.8%0.8% to 2.3%2.3% to 3.5%3.5% to 4%Over 4%
2025
0.9%0.7%0.5%0.2%0%1992199720022008201320182023
Belgium

Source

World Bank

Source series SI.POV.DDAY. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.