Prosperity gap in South Africa
South Africa: Prosperity gap was 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prosperity gap 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 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prosperity gap in South Africa is 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prosperity gap in South Africa peaked at 12 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, in 2022.
That places South Africa 30th out of 123 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Prosperity gap in South Africa, year by year
| Year | average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 10.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | — |
| 2000 | 12 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +12.1% |
| 2005 | 9.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -19.2% |
| 2008 | 9.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 7.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -19.6% |
| 2014 | 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -25.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 10.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 10.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 9.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 12 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 7.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 27 Botswana 6.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 27 Senegal 6.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 29 Honduras 6.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 30 Guinea 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 32 Mauritania 5.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 33 India 5.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
More poverty & inequality data for South Africa
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 prosperity gap in South Africa?
- Prosperity gap in South Africa was 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 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 prosperity gap recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2000.
- What is the lowest prosperity gap recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for prosperity gap?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prosperity gap rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.0%. 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 Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28 per day (adjusted for differences in purchasing power parity across countries). It is measured as the average factor by which incomes fall short of $28.