Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in South Africa
South Africa: Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines was 17.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines 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, share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in South Africa stood at 17.4%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in poverty relative to different poverty lines 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.
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines 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 share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in South Africa?
- Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines 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 share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share in poverty relative to different poverty lines 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 Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.