Proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 17.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa stood at 17.4%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa peaked at 47.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.4%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 29th of 132 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 44.6% | — |
| 2000 | 47.9% | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 40.7% | -15.0% |
| 2008 | 37.0% | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 27.8% | -24.9% |
| 2014 | 27.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | -37.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.6% | 44.6% | 44.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 41.9% | 37.0% | 47.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 27.9% | 27.8% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 26 Syrian Arab Republic 18.0% compare
- 26 Syrian Arab Republic 18.0% compare
- 28 Senegal 17.9% compare
- 30 Honduras 15.7% compare
- 31 Guinea 11.7% compare
- 32 Mauritania 10.2% 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 proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in South Africa was 17.4% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 132 countries with data for 2022.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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