Share of population living in extreme poverty in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in extreme poverty was 21.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in extreme poverty in South Africa, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 21.0% for share of population living in extreme poverty in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in South Africa peaked at 90.0% in 1850 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 1980.
That places South Africa 3rd out of 25 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of population living in extreme poverty in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 86.0% | — |
| 1830 | 82.0% | -4.7% |
| 1840 | 86.0% | +4.9% |
| 1850 | 90.0% | +4.7% |
| 1860 | 83.0% | -7.8% |
| 1870 | 83.0% | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 54.0% | -34.9% |
| 1890 | 67.0% | +24.1% |
| 1900 | 77.0% | +14.9% |
| 1910 | 69.0% | -10.4% |
| 1920 | 70.0% | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 68.0% | -2.9% |
| 1940 | 52.0% | -23.5% |
| 1950 | 40.0% | -23.1% |
| 1960 | 38.0% | -5.0% |
| 1970 | 24.0% | -36.8% |
| 1980 | 15.0% | -37.5% |
| 1990 | 29.0% | +93.3% |
| 2000 | 28.0% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | -35.7% |
| 2018 | 21.0% | +16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 86.0% | 86.0% | 86.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 82.0% | 82.0% | 82.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 86.0% | 86.0% | 86.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 90.0% | 90.0% | 90.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 54.0% | 54.0% | 54.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 67.0% | 67.0% | 67.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 77.0% | 77.0% | 77.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 69.0% | 69.0% | 69.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 70.0% | 70.0% | 70.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 68.0% | 68.0% | 68.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 52.0% | 52.0% | 52.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 40.0% | 40.0% | 40.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 38.0% | 38.0% | 38.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 24.0% | 24.0% | 24.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 15.0% | 15.0% | 15.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 29.0% | 29.0% | 29.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.0% | 28.0% | 28.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 18.0% | 21.0% | 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 in South Africa?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in South Africa was 21.0% in 2018, according to Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 1850.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population unable to meet basic needs (including minimal nutrition and adequately heated shelter) according to prices of locally-available goods and services at the time..