Distribution of population between different poverty lines … 2011 in South Africa
South Africa: Distribution of population between different poverty lines … 2011 was 14.97 million people in 2014. ▲ Rising
Distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) in South Africa, 1993–2014
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 14.97 million people for distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) in 2014. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 52.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) in South Africa peaked at 14.97 million people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 7.41 million people, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 30th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines … 2011 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 7.91 million people | — |
| 2000 | 7.41 million people | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 9.81 million people | +32.4% |
| 2008 | 13.30 million people | +35.5% |
| 2010 | 14.29 million people | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 14.97 million people | +4.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 14.97 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.40 million people, 2.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 14.97 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 639,177 people, 23.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.91 million people | 7.91 million people | 7.91 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.17 million people | 7.41 million people | 13.30 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 14.63 million people | 14.29 million people | 14.97 million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More poverty & inequality data for South Africa
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,562 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -20.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 28.13 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 28.1% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) in South Africa?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) in South Africa was 14.97 million people in 2014, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.97 million people in 2014.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.41 million people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices)?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 119 countries with data for 2014.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.