Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Proportion of population below international poverty line was 19.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa is 19.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa peaked at 49.0% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 19.0%, in 2023.
Southern Africa ranks 10th of 42 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45.2% | — |
| 1991 | 45.7% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 46.4% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 46.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 46.8% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 46.5% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 46.5% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 47.9% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 48.3% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 48.5% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 49.0% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 48.4% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 44.9% | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 41.8% | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 39.9% | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 37.5% | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 37.1% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 36.0% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 29.3% | -18.6% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 28.0% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 28.0% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 28.5% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 28.2% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 26.9% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 25.5% | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 23.6% | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 21.4% | -9.3% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | -6.5% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | -5.0% |
| 2024 | 19.1% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.6% | 45.2% | 48.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 43.1% | 36.0% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.9% | 25.5% | 29.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 20.6% | 19.0% | 23.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 7 Uganda 59.8% compare
- 8 United Republic of Tanzania 51.3% compare
- 9 Kenya 45.5% compare
- 10 Melanesia 44.1% compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 42.1% compare
- 12 Nigeria 41.8% compare
- 13 Guinea-Bissau 39.9% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Southern Africa
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Southern Africa was 19.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49.0% in 2001.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.0% in 2023.
- How does Southern Africa rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Southern Africa ranks 10th out of 42 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Southern 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
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).