The Head count ratio (HCR) is the proportion of a population that exists, or lives, below the 'poverty line'. The Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (percentage of population) in India was last reported at 21.9% in 2011-12. Definition:-When the number of poor is estimated as the proportion of people below the poverty line, it is known as 'head count ratio'.
References
Head count ratio Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA