Proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of population below the international poverty line of was 18.9% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Latest (2014)
18.9%
World rank
4th
of 80 countries
All-time high
35.0%
in 2000
All-time low
16.5%
in 2010
Years of data
5
2000–2014
Proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa, 2000–2014
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa is 18.9%, measured in 2014.
The figure is down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa peaked at 35.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.5%, in 2010.
That places South Africa 4th out of 80 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top 10%.
Proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.0% | — |
| 2005 | 26.1% | -25.4% |
| 2008 | 16.9% | -35.2% |
| 2010 | 16.5% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 18.9% | +14.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 18.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.0%, 18.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.0% | 16.9% | 35.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.7% | 16.5% | 18.9% | 2 |
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 proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa?
- Proportion of population below the international poverty line of in South Africa was 18.9% in 2014, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest proportion of population below the international poverty line of recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below the international poverty line of recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.5% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of population below the international poverty line of?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 80 countries with data for 2014.
- Is proportion of population below the international poverty line of rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Proportion of population below the international poverty line of US$1.90 per day (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).