Guyana Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Guyana's poverty rate was 13.00% in 1998, ranked 25th globally. This represents a 61.0% decrease from 1997. Data from World Bank, covering 1992–1998.
Overview
Guyana's poverty rate stood at 13.00% in 1998, a decline of +20.30pp from 1992. Guyana ranked 25th globally.
Guyana’s poverty rate fell dramatically between the early 1990s and the late 1990s, dropping from an all‑time peak of 33.30 % in 1992 to a trough of 13.00 % in 1998, a reduction that placed the country at 25th globally in the World Bank’s 1998 ranking. This 20.30‑percentage‑point decline over six years reflects a period of rapid economic adjustment, driven in part by reforms in the agricultural sector and modest growth in mining exports. By contrast, neighboring Guatemala recorded a poverty rate of 13.40 % in the same period, indicating that Guyana’s achievement was comparable to the lower‑end of regional outcomes, while Costa Rica and Chile remained well below 8 % and Iran above 15 %. The sharp contraction suggests that policy measures targeting income redistribution and rural development were effective, yet the limited data window precludes assessment of longer‑term sustainability. Continued diversification of the economy and investment in social protection will be crucial to maintain the downward trajectory and avoid a reversal of progress.
Data & projection
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guyana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guyana's poverty rate was 13.00% in 1998. Ranked 25th globally. This represents a 61.0% decrease from the previous year.
Guyana's poverty rate peaked at 33.30% in 1992.
The lowest poverty rate in Guyana was 13.00% in 1998.
Guyana ranks 25th globally in poverty rate as of 1998.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Guyana in 1998 was 13.00%. This ranks 25th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guyana_poverty-rate,
title = {Guyana Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guyana/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}