267 million people rise above poverty line; World Bank gives out heartening report

India has witnessed a sharp decline in poverty over the past 12 years, with 267 million people rising above the poverty line, according to a new World Bank report. The poverty rate has dropped from 27.1% in 2011-12 to just 5.3% by 2022-23—a significant achievement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.

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In 2011-12, around 347 million (34.7 crore) Indians lived in poverty. By 2022-23, that number had reduced to 70.5 million (7.05 crore), marking a dramatic turnaround in India’s development indicators. The World Bank attributes this progress to economic growth, welfare measures, and increased access to services across both urban and rural areas.

Notably, the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh—once home to a large share of India’s poor—have also seen significant improvements, though they still account for 65% of those below the poverty line.

Using the international poverty line of $2.15 per day (based on 2017 prices), only 2.3% of Indians now fall below that threshold, compared to 16% in 2011-12. By 2022, about 33 million people were living on less than $2.15 per day.

The World Bank report highlights a broad-based reduction in poverty across India, with gains recorded in both urban and rural areas, signaling a decade of inclusive progress.