Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa
South Africa: Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines was 37.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa, 2005–2022
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa is 37.9%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa peaked at 57.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 37.9%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 7th of 70 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 57.5% | — |
| 2008 | 55.7% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 45.8% | -17.8% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 37.9% | -18.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 37.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.5%, 2.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 37.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.9%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.6% | 55.7% | 57.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 46.2% | 45.8% | 46.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 37.9% | 37.9% | 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 poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa?
- Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in South Africa was 37.9% in 2022, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 57.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.9% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 70 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines 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. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line(s). National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. For economies for which the data are from EU-SILC, the reported year is the income reference year, which is the year before the survey year.