Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time in South Africa
South Africa: Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time was 17.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time in South Africa is 17.4%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time in South Africa peaked at 47.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.4%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 26th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time 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% | -24.8% |
| 2014 | 27.9% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | -37.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.6%, 10.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 17.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.8%, 45% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
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
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 extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time in South Africa?
- Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time in South Africa was 17.4% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time 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 World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.