Share of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living below national poverty lines was 37.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa, 2005–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa is 37.9%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa peaked at 57.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 37.9%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 7th of 70 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 57.5% | — |
| 2008 | 55.7% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 45.8% | -17.8% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 37.9% | -18.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.6% | 55.7% | 57.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 46.2% | 45.8% | 46.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 37.9% | 37.9% | 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 of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa?
- Share of population living below national poverty lines in South Africa was 37.9% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living below national poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 57.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of population living below national poverty lines recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.9% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living below national poverty lines?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 70 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of population living below national poverty lines rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. 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) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living below national poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty lines. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.