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Papua New Guinea Poverty Rate

Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day  SI.POV.DDAY

Papua New Guinea's poverty rate was 52.20% in 2009, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 16.9% decrease from 2008. Data from World Bank, covering 1996–2009.

52.20% −10.60pp (-16.9%)
Year 2009 Rank #79 Global Peak 62.80% (1996) Source World Bank

Papua New Guinea Poverty Rate (1996–2009)

Overview

Papua New Guinea's poverty rate stood at 52.20% in 2009, a decline of +10.60pp from 1996. Papua New Guinea ranked 79th globally.

Papua New Guinea's poverty rate has seen significant fluctuations over the years, with the country experiencing a notable decline since 1996. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate peaked at 62.80% in 1996, ranking the country among the poorest nations globally. However, by 2009, the poverty rate had decreased to 52.20%, a reduction of 16.60% over the 13-year period. This decline positions Papua New Guinea among the better performers, with its poverty rate ranking lower than that of peer countries such as Eswatini (58.20%) and South Sudan (44.90%), but higher than Namibia (38.60%). Despite this progress, Papua New Guinea's poverty rate remains a concern, with the country ranking #79 globally. To continue reducing poverty, Papua New Guinea would need to sustain its economic growth, improve access to education and healthcare, and enhance its social safety net programs, particularly in rural areas where poverty remains a significant challenge.

Data & projection

Year Poverty Rate YoY change Rank
2009 52.20% −10.60pp #79
1996 62.80% – #40

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +22.9% GDP growth 5.7% C/A balance 14.4%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Papua New Guinea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Papua New Guinea's poverty rate?▾

Papua New Guinea's poverty rate was 52.20% in 2009. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 16.9% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest poverty rate in Papua New Guinea?▾

Papua New Guinea's poverty rate peaked at 62.80% in 1996.

What was the lowest poverty rate in Papua New Guinea?▾

The lowest poverty rate in Papua New Guinea was 52.20% in 2009.

How does Papua New Guinea rank in poverty rate?▾

Papua New Guinea ranks 79th globally in poverty rate as of 2009.

What is the World Bank indicator code for poverty rate?▾

The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the poverty rate of Papua New Guinea in 2009?▾

The poverty rate of Papua New Guinea in 2009 was 52.20%. This ranks 79th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Papua New Guinea Poverty Rate. HistorySaid. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/poverty-rate/
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_poverty-rate, title = {Papua New Guinea Poverty Rate}, url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/poverty-rate/}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }
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