Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa
South Africa: Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median was 20.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa stood at 20.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa peaked at 25.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 20.3%, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 9th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 25.4% | — |
| 2000 | 25.4% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 20.3% | -20.1% |
| 2008 | 23.1% | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 22.7% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 22.3% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 20.4% | -8.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.4% | 25.4% | 25.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.9% | 20.3% | 25.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 22.3% | 22.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 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 relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa?
- Relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median in South Africa was 20.4% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 25.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.3% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median?
- South Africa ranks 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is relative poverty: share of population below 50% of the median rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below 50% of the median.