Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) was 18.7% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa, 1993–2014
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2014, share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa stood at 18.7%.
That represents a change of down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa peaked at 34.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 20th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 31.5% | — |
| 2000 | 34.8% | +10.5% |
| 2005 | 25.7% | -26.1% |
| 2008 | 16.7% | -34.8% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 18.7% | +16.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.5% | 31.5% | 31.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 16.7% | 34.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 16.1% | 18.7% | 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 share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in South Africa was 18.7% in 2014, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices)?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 119 countries with data for 2014.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. 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 (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices). 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 $1.90 per day.