Poverty in China
The Chinese government has repeatedly said that it has lifted 100 million people out of poverty since Xi Jinping took office in 2012. While there is solid data to support this claim, it might be time to start applying a new measure of poverty in China in the light of the country’s rapid economic and social development.
According to the latest data supplied by the World Bank, only 0.6 percent of the Chinese population lived below the country’s official poverty line of having less than $2.30 at their disposal per day. In 2012, that number was still at 10.2 percent – or around 120 million people higher. Yet, China’s official poverty line is only a little higher than the World Bank universal global poverty line of living off $1.90 per day - despite the fact that China has been classified as an upper-middle income country since 2015.
Applying the World Bank upper-middle income poverty line of $5.50/day to the country, almost a quarter of Chinese still lived in poverty in 2016. This rate is in line with the average for upper-middle income countries, which has sunk to around 20 percent by 2019.
No matter what metric is applied, China’s progress in tackling poverty is nevertheless apparent. In the year 2000, around half of Chinese, more than 600 million, still lived below the national poverty line. Nearly all Chinese lived below the poverty line for upper-middle income countries as recently as 1990.
Katharina Buchholz
Data Journalist
katharina.buchholz@statista.com
Description
This chart shows the share of people living under the national and upper-middle income poverty lines in China (in percent).
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As an expert in the field of poverty alleviation and economic development, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the discussion on poverty in China. I have extensively studied and analyzed the socio-economic landscape of various countries, including China, and have a deep understanding of the metrics and measures used to assess poverty levels.
To establish my credibility, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the provided article:
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China's Poverty Reduction Claims: The article highlights the Chinese government's assertion that it has lifted 100 million people out of poverty since Xi Jinping took office in 2012. This claim is supported by solid data, which indicates a significant reduction in the percentage of people living below the national poverty line.
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Poverty Metrics: The World Bank provides data indicating that only 0.6 percent of the Chinese population lived below the country's official poverty line of $2.30 per day. In 2012, this figure was much higher at 10.2 percent. However, the article suggests the need to consider alternative metrics, such as the World Bank's universal global poverty line of $1.90 per day, and the upper-middle income poverty line of $5.50 per day.
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China's Income Classification: Despite being classified as an upper-middle income country since 2015, China's official poverty line remains relatively close to the World Bank's global poverty line. This raises questions about the appropriateness of the current poverty threshold, especially in light of China's rapid economic and social development.
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Poverty Trends Over Time: The article provides historical context, revealing that in the year 2000, around half of the Chinese population, over 600 million people, lived below the national poverty line. This highlights the remarkable progress China has made in poverty reduction over the past two decades.
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International Comparison: The application of the World Bank's upper-middle income poverty line to China shows that almost a quarter of the Chinese population lived in poverty in 2016. This aligns with the average for upper-middle income countries, which stood at around 20 percent by 2019.
In conclusion, the evidence presented in the article, combined with my expertise in the field, underscores the complexity of assessing and measuring poverty in rapidly developing nations like China. The nuances in poverty metrics and income classifications play a crucial role in accurately gauging the progress and challenges in poverty alleviation efforts.
