Belize Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Belize's poverty rate was 1.00% in 2018, ranked 44th globally. This represents a 95.6% decrease from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 1993–2018.
Overview
Belize's poverty rate stood at 1.00% in 2018, a decline of +21.50pp from 1999. Belize ranked 44th globally.
Belize’s poverty rate has fallen dramatically from an early‑record 18.00 % in 1993 to a historic low of 1.00 % in 2018, the same figure recorded by peer nations Albania and Spain and only marginally above Sweden’s 0.90 % rate. The all‑time peak of 26.10 % occurred in 1998, after which the country embarked on a steep downward trajectory that persisted for eight years of World Bank coverage. This reduction reflects extensive social‑protection reforms, expanded access to basic services, and a modest rise in per‑capita income that together lifted large segments of the population out of extreme deprivation. While the 2018 trough positions Belize among the world’s least impoverished economies, sustaining the decline will depend on maintaining fiscal discipline, diversifying the export base, and strengthening climate‑resilience measures that could otherwise reverse the gains. Continued investment in education and health is likely to reinforce the downward trend in poverty.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.00% | −21.50pp | #44 |
| 1999 | 22.50% | −3.60pp | #29 |
| 1998 | 26.10% | +0.10pp | #35 |
| 1997 | 26.00% | +2.70pp | #27 |
| 1996 | 23.30% | +4.90pp | #32 |
| 1995 | 18.40% | +0.30pp | #33 |
| 1994 | 18.10% | +0.10pp | #18 |
| 1993 | 18.00% | – | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Belize matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1990. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Belize's poverty rate was 1.00% in 2018. Ranked 44th globally. This represents a 95.6% decrease from the previous year.
Belize's poverty rate peaked at 26.10% in 1998.
The lowest poverty rate in Belize was 1.00% in 2018.
Belize ranks 44th globally in poverty rate as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Belize in 2018 was 1.00%. This ranks 44th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_belize_poverty-rate,
title = {Belize Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/belize/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}