Poverty & Inequality in South Africa 100 indicators covering poverty & inequality for South Africa. IndicatorLatest Year10-yr change Rank Share of population living in extreme poverty vs. mean income or consumption per day 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 26th Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 26th Distribution of population between different poverty lines 3.70 million people 2022 down 2.5% 35th Poverty: Share of population living on less than $30 a day 90.8% 2022 up 1.6% 56th Share of population living in extreme poverty 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 26th Poverty: Share of population living on less than $8.30 a day 59.6% 2022 down 8.4% 34th Number of people living in extreme poverty 52.09 million people 2022 up 37.9% 23rd Distribution of population between different poverty lines 11.00 million people 2022 down 24.5% 16th Number of people living in extreme poverty 11.00 million people 2022 down 24.5% 16th Share living on less than $8.30 a day vs. mean income or consumption 59.6% 2022 down 8.4% 34th The share and number of people living in extreme poverty 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 26th Relative poverty: Share of population below 40% of the median 13.1% 2022 down 15.3% 9th Relative poverty: Share of population below 50% of the median 20.4% 2022 down 10.4% 9th Relative poverty: Share of population below 60% of the median 27.4% 2022 down 8.6% 7th Poverty: Share of population living on less than $40 a day 94.1% 2022 up 1.5% 63rd Extreme monetary poverty and multidimensional poverty over time 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 26th Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty 30.2% 2022 down 26.8% 26th Share of global population living in extreme poverty including and excluding China 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 26th Share of the population in poverty vs. Electoral Democracy Index 66.1% 2022 down 6.0% 37th Number of people living in extreme poverty: September 2024 data vs. latest data 11.00 million people 2022 down 24.5% 16th Distribution of population between different poverty lines 3.70 million people 2022 down 2.5% 35th Gini coefficient 0.5405 2022 down 11.2% 3rd Share of children who are underweight vs. share in extreme poverty 4.9% 2017 down 46.2% 62nd Cereal yield vs. extreme poverty rate 17.4% 2022 down 37.4% 25th Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines 37.9% 2022 down 17.2% 7th Share of population living below national poverty lines 37.9% 2022 down 17.2% 7th Income inequality: Gini coefficient before and after tax 0.6201 2023 down 0.2% 1st Gini coefficient (after tax) 0.6201 2023 down 0.2% 1st Distribution of population between different poverty lines (2011 prices) 14.97 million people 2014 up 52.5% 30th Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) 18.7% 2014 down 27.1% 20th Poverty: Share of population living on less than $30 a day (2011 prices) 90.8% 2014 down 2.3% 67th Share of population living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices 18.7% 2014 down 27.1% 20th Number of people living in extreme poverty: 2011 vs. 2017 prices 10.42 million people 2014 down 17.2% 11th Share of population living on less than the lower-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices 37.3% 2014 down 22.8% 24th Share of population living on less than the upper-middle income poverty line: 2011 vs. 2017 prices 56.9% 2014 down 15.9% 33rd Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) 20.5% 2014 down 27.7% 20th Proportion of population living below the national poverty line 37.9% 2022 down 17.2% 6th Share of population living in extreme poverty 21.0% 2018 up 16.7% 3rd Interpersonal trust vs. income inequality 23.3% 2014 up 102.2% 26th Proportion of population below the international poverty line of 18.9% 2014 down 27.6% 4th ← Previous Page 2 of 2