Share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices was 18.7% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 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
The most recent figure for share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa is 18.7%, measured in 2014.
The figure is down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa peaked at 34.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2010.
That places South Africa 20th out of 119 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 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 vs. 2017 prices in South Africa?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 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 vs. 2017 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 vs. 2017 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 vs. 2017 prices?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 119 countries with data for 2014.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 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 vs. 2017 prices. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 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 $1.90 per day.