Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Africa
South Africa: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 33.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line 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 % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Africa is 33.8%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Africa peaked at 47.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 33.8%, in 2022.
That places South Africa 21st out of 123 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 45.2% | — |
| 2000 | 47.9% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 43.0% | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 42.0% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 38.7% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 38.9% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 33.8% | -13.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.2% | 45.2% | 45.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 44.3% | 42.0% | 47.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 38.8% | 38.7% | 38.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 33.8% | 33.8% | 33.8% | 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 societal poverty line in South Africa?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in South Africa was 33.8% 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 headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.8% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. 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 headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). 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
The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.