Indonesia vs South Africa: Share of population living in extreme poverty

Indonesia
11.0%
in 2018
South Africa
21.0%
in 2018
Indonesia rank
4th
South Africa rank
3rd

Share of population living in extreme poverty over time

  • Indonesia
  • South Africa
20406080100182019192018

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 21.0% against 11.0% in Indonesia, a difference of 10.0%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.9 times Indonesia's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 21 shared years of data; in 1820 it was Indonesia ahead.

Indonesia ranks 4th and South Africa ranks 3rd of 25 countries.

Across the 20 decades both report, Indonesia averaged higher in 19 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Indonesia South Africa Difference Ahead
1820s 96.0% 86.0% 10.0% Indonesia
1830s 97.0% 82.0% 15.0% Indonesia
1840s 97.0% 86.0% 11.0% Indonesia
1850s 99.0% 90.0% 9.0% Indonesia
1860s 98.0% 83.0% 15.0% Indonesia
1870s 98.0% 83.0% 15.0% Indonesia
1880s 97.0% 54.0% 43.0% Indonesia
1890s 97.0% 67.0% 30.0% Indonesia
1900s 95.0% 77.0% 18.0% Indonesia
1910s 93.0% 69.0% 24.0% Indonesia
1920s 90.0% 70.0% 20.0% Indonesia
1930s 86.0% 68.0% 18.0% Indonesia
1940s 85.0% 52.0% 33.0% Indonesia
1950s 91.0% 40.0% 51.0% Indonesia
1960s 90.0% 38.0% 52.0% Indonesia
1970s 73.0% 24.0% 49.0% Indonesia
1980s 40.0% 15.0% 25.0% Indonesia
1990s 41.0% 29.0% 12.0% Indonesia
2000s 42.0% 28.0% 14.0% Indonesia
2010s 18.0% 19.5% 1.5% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher share of population living in extreme poverty, Indonesia or South Africa?
South Africa, at 21.0% against 11.0% in Indonesia as of 2018.
What is the difference in share of population living in extreme poverty between Indonesia and South Africa?
10.0%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Indonesia and South Africa?
21 years are reported by both, from 1820 to 2018.
How do Indonesia and South Africa rank globally for share of population living in extreme poverty?
Indonesia ranks 4th and South Africa ranks 3rd of 25 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Indonesia vs South Africa: Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid, drawing on Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/compare/share-of-population-living-in-extreme-poverty-lines-cbn/indonesia/south-africa/

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<a href="https://poverty.statizoid.com/compare/share-of-population-living-in-extreme-poverty-lines-cbn/indonesia/south-africa/">Indonesia vs South Africa: Share of population living in extreme poverty</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in extreme poverty
Unit
%
Source
Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
25 places, 525 data points, 1820–2018
Last refreshed

Share of the population unable to meet basic needs (including minimal nutrition and adequately heated shelter) according to prices of locally-available goods and services at the time..