Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share was 30.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in South Africa is 30.2%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in South Africa peaked at 59.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 30.2%, in 2022.
That places South Africa 26th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 56.0% | — |
| 2000 | 59.3% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 54.9% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 50.1% | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 41.2% | -17.6% |
| 2014 | 41.7% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 30.2% | -27.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 30.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.2%, 7.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 30.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.1%, 49% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.0% | 56.0% | 56.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 54.8% | 50.1% | 59.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 41.5% | 41.2% | 41.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.2% | 30.2% | 30.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More poverty & inequality data for South Africa
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in South Africa?
- Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in South Africa was 30.2% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 59.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.2% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. 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 of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty. 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 $4.20 per day.