Jamaica Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Jamaica's poverty rate was 1.40% in 2021, ranked 45th globally. This represents a 250.0% increase from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1988–2021.
Overview
Jamaica's poverty rate stood at 1.40% in 2021, a rise of +1.00pp from 2018. Jamaica ranked 45th globally.
Jamaica’s poverty rate fell dramatically from an all‑time peak of 20.50 % in 1993 to a trough of 0.40 % in 2018, before rising slightly to 1.40 % in 2021, a level that ties it with Egypt, Arab Republic of and Argentina in the World Bank ranking and places the island nation 45th globally. The steep decline over the 1990s and 2000s reflects sustained social programmes, expansion of formal employment, and targeted cash‑transfer schemes, while the modest uptick after 2018 coincides with the COVID‑19 pandemic’s impact on tourism‑dependent households and a slowdown in fiscal consolidation. With nine years of data covering the period from 1988 to 2021, the trend illustrates Jamaica’s capacity to reduce extreme poverty but also its vulnerability to external shocks. Continued diversification of the economy, investment in resilient social safety nets, and climate‑adaptation measures will be crucial to sustain the downward trajectory and prevent a reversal of recent gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.40% | +1.00pp | #45 |
| 2018 | 0.40% | −4.10pp | #30 |
| 2004 | 4.50% | −1.90pp | #44 |
| 2002 | 6.40% | +0.70pp | #31 |
| 1999 | 5.70% | −2.60pp | #17 |
| 1996 | 8.30% | −12.20pp | #22 |
| 1993 | 20.50% | +8.90pp | #23 |
| 1990 | 11.60% | −2.20pp | #12 |
| 1988 | 13.80% | – | #9 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Jamaica matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Jamaica's poverty rate was 1.40% in 2021. Ranked 45th globally. This represents a 250.0% increase from the previous year.
Jamaica's poverty rate peaked at 20.50% in 1993.
The lowest poverty rate in Jamaica was 0.40% in 2018.
Jamaica ranks 45th globally in poverty rate as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Jamaica in 2021 was 1.40%. This ranks 45th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_jamaica_poverty-rate,
title = {Jamaica Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/jamaica/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}