Head count ratio

The head count ratio (HCR) is the population proportion that exists, or lives, below the poverty threshold.^[1] One of the undesirable features of the head count ratio is that it ignores the depth of poverty; if the poor become poorer, the head count index does not change.^[2] For example, the poverty head count ratio at national poverty line (percentage of population) in India was last reported at 21.9% in 2011.^[3] In July 2012, The New York Times reported the poverty head count ratio as 11.1% of the population of the United States in 1973, 15.2% in 1983 and 11.3% in 2000.^[4]

Head count ratio in South Africa

See also

• Poverty gap index