Distribution of population between different poverty lines in South Africa
South Africa: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 21.40 million people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 21.40 million people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2022. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in South Africa peaked at 21.40 million people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 8.28 million people, in 2000.
That places South Africa 29th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 8.84 million people | — |
| 2000 | 8.28 million people | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 10.78 million people | +30.1% |
| 2008 | 13.00 million people | +20.6% |
| 2010 | 15.55 million people | +19.6% |
| 2014 | 16.60 million people | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 21.40 million people | +28.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 21.40 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.77 million people, 2.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 21.40 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.29 million people, 16.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.84 million people | 8.84 million people | 8.84 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.69 million people | 8.28 million people | 13.00 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.08 million people | 15.55 million people | 16.60 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 21.40 million people | 21.40 million people | 21.40 million people | 1 |
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 in South Africa?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in South Africa was 21.40 million people in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.40 million people in 2022.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.28 million people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.6%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.