Extreme poverty rate — all countries

Extreme poverty rate — South Africa

Extreme poverty rate in South Africa in 2022 — 17.4%. Ranked 67 in the world out of 73. Since 1993, the indicator has fallen by 27.2 pp.

2022 17.4% −10.5 pp vs 2014
World rank 67of 73
Period maximum 47.9%2000
Period minimum 17.4%2022

Trend over time

1993–2022 · % of population

Extreme poverty rate — South Africa, 1993–20221020304050199319961999200220052008201120142017202020221993: 44.6%2000: 47.9%2005: 40.7%2008: 37%2010: 27.8%2014: 27.9%2022: 17.4%
Change over the period: −27.2 pp Annual average: -0.94 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 17.4%
World 10.9%
Extreme poverty rate — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 17.4
2014 27.9
2010 27.8
2008 37
2005 40.7
2000 47.9
1993 44.6

About the indicator

The share of the population whose consumption or income falls below the international extreme poverty line — $2.15 a day in 2017 prices at purchasing power parity. This is the very indicator by which the first UN Sustainable Development Goal is tracked. The line is revised as the PPP conversion factors are updated, so historical values are recalculated retrospectively.

Important: The estimates are built on household surveys held once every few years; between surveys the values are interpolated.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.