Poverty and living standards in San Marcos, Guatemala: official figures

53.7% of people in San Marcos lived in poverty in the 2023 ENCOVI (national: 56.0%), joint 11th highest of 22 departments.

Poverty rate (ENCOVI 2023)

53.7%

2023

What is the extreme poverty rate in San Marcos?

6.9% of people in San Marcos lived in extreme poverty in 2023 (national: 16.2%), 8th lowest of 22.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How deep is poverty in San Marcos?

The 2023 ENCOVI puts the poverty gap in San Marcos at 16.4%, 8th lowest of 22 departments; the gap measures how far the average poor household falls below the poverty line.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How severe is poverty in San Marcos?

The poverty severity index in San Marcos was 7.2% in 2023, joint 7th lowest of 22 departments; it gives more weight to households furthest below the poverty line.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How unequal is San Marcos?

The Gini coefficient of consumption in San Marcos was 0.31 in 2023, joint 2nd least unequal of 22.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How many poor people in San Marcos are in extreme poverty?

Extreme poverty accounts for 13% of the poverty rate in San Marcos; in the country as a whole the share is 29% (ENCOVI 2023).

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How San Marcos compares with other departments

Poverty rate (ENCOVI) (2023)

San Marcos ranks 12 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Poverty rate (ENCOVI)
9	Solola	61.9%
10	Chiquimula	59.6%
11	Suchitepequez	53.7%
12	San Marcos	53.7%
13	Zacapa	52.6%
14	Retalhuleu	50.9%
15	Peten	50.6%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

Extreme poverty rate (ENCOVI) (2023)

San Marcos ranks 15 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Extreme poverty rate (ENCOVI)
12	Solola	8.8%
13	Peten	8.4%
14	Suchitepequez	7.7%
15	San Marcos	6.9%
16	Chimaltenango	5.8%
17	El Progreso	5.1%
18	Retalhuleu	4.1%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

Poverty gap (ENCOVI) (2023)

San Marcos ranks 15 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Poverty gap (ENCOVI)
12	Izabal	19.5%
13	Suchitepequez	18.5%
14	Peten	16.6%
15	San Marcos	16.4%
16	Chimaltenango	16.0%
17	El Progreso	15.6%
18	Retalhuleu	15.2%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

Gini coefficient of consumption (ENCOVI) (2023)

San Marcos ranks 21 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gini coefficient of consumption (ENCOVI)
16	Jutiapa	0.33
17	Santa Rosa	0.32
18	Totonicapan	0.32
19	Quiche	0.32
20	Suchitepequez	0.31
21	San Marcos	0.31
22	Retalhuleu	0.30

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

More on San Marcos: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Guatemala

Sources

Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida (ENCOVI) 2023: Poverty and inequality (departmental maps for poverty, extreme poverty, poverty gap and severity, Gini, water, sanitation, electricity), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 df15ab3fe8b7…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.