Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 10.42 million people in 2014. ▼ Falling
Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 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 10.42 million people for number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa peaked at 16.39 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.36 million people, in 2010.
That places South Africa 11th out of 119 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top 10%.
Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 13.39 million people | — |
| 2000 | 16.39 million people | +22.4% |
| 2005 | 12.59 million people | -23.2% |
| 2008 | 8.53 million people | -32.2% |
| 2010 | 8.36 million people | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 10.42 million people | +24.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.39 million people | 13.39 million people | 13.39 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 12.50 million people | 8.53 million people | 16.39 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.39 million people | 8.36 million people | 10.42 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 number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa was 10.42 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 number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.39 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.36 million people in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 119 countries with data for 2014.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices. 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 below $1.90 per day.