Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Africa
South Africa: Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) was 10.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Africa stood at 10.5%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Africa peaked at 31.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 26th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 28.3% | — |
| 2000 | 31.1% | +9.9% |
| 2005 | 24.8% | -20.3% |
| 2008 | 22.7% | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | -25.6% |
| 2014 | 17.1% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | -38.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.3% | 28.3% | 28.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 26.2% | 22.7% | 31.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 16.9% | 17.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.5% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 23 Côte d'Ivoire 12.3% compare
- 24 Syrian Arab Republic 11.4% compare
- 25 Senegal 10.9% compare
- 27 Honduras 10.1% compare
- 28 Kosovo 7.5% compare
- 28 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 7.5% compare
More poverty & inequality data for South Africa
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Africa?
- Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Africa was 10.5% in 2022, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.9%. 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. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $4.20 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.