Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa
South Africa: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 11.00 million people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2022, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa stood at 11.00 million people. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa peaked at 22.74 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.00 million people, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 16th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 19.32 million people | — |
| 2000 | 22.74 million people | +17.7% |
| 2005 | 20.14 million people | -11.4% |
| 2008 | 19.07 million people | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 14.57 million people | -23.6% |
| 2014 | 15.77 million people | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 11.00 million people | -30.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.32 million people | 19.32 million people | 19.32 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 20.65 million people | 19.07 million people | 22.74 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.17 million people | 14.57 million people | 15.77 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.00 million people | 11.00 million people | 11.00 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 13 Philippines 13.25 million people compare
- 14 Ghana 11.65 million people compare
- 15 Indonesia 11.53 million people compare
- 17 Bangladesh 10.01 million people compare
- 18 Burundi 9.40 million people compare
- 19 Burkina Faso 9.40 million people compare
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 total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in South Africa was 11.00 million people in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.74 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.00 million people in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. 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 Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.