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Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Upper-middle income
South Africa: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 17.4% (2022), 39th of 151 in the world and 35th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 30.2% (2022), 40th of 151 in the world and 36th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 59.6% (2022), 51st of 151 in the world and 40th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
South AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaUpper-middle incomeWorld
Women in parliament
South AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaUpper-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: South Africa in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 17.4%2022 | 39/151 | 35/44 | 47.9% | 27.8% | 17.4%2022 | −10.4 ppsince 2010 | 45.0% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 30.2%2022 | 40/151 | 36/44 | 59.3% | 41.2% | 30.2%2022 | −11.0 ppsince 2010 | 63.2% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 59.6%2022 | 51/151 | 40/44 | 78.5% | 65.1% | 59.6%2022 | −5.5 ppsince 2010 | 88.6% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 37.9%2022 | 33/145 | 28/45 | · | 45.8% | 37.9%2022 | −7.9 ppsince 2010 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 54.12022 | 5/151 | 4/44 | 57.8 | 60.9 | 54.12022 | −11%since 2010 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 42.1%2022 | 5/151 | 4/44 | 44.9% | 48.2% | 42.1%2022 | −6.1 ppsince 2010 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 3.7%2022 | 148/151 | 43/44 | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.7%2022 | +1.0 ppsince 2010 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 11.2%2024 | 49/167 | 33/44 | 3.6%2001 | 4.1% | 8.6% | +5.6 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 4.0% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 20.9%2024 | 84/155 | 37/38 | · | · | 19.0% | — | — | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 81.1%2024 | 60/145 | 4/36 | · | 53.6%2011 | 85.4%2021 | +10.8 ppsince 2014 | 55.1% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 44.9%2025 | 16/190 | 2/46 | 29.8% | 44.5% | 46.8% | +2.9 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $1.5bn2023 | 28/145 | 14/48 | $490m | $1.0bn | $1.2bn | +16%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 0.4%2023 | 111/139 | 44/47 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | +0.1 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $23.82023 | 111/145 | 44/48 | $10.4 | $19.6 | $19.9 | +0.6%since 2013 | $51.5 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−10.4 pp17.4% in 2022
- Poverty, $4.20/day−11.0 pp30.2% in 2022
- Poverty, $8.30/day−5.5 pp59.6% in 2022
- National poverty rate−7.9 pp37.9% in 2022
Worse than ten years ago
- Undernourishment+5.6 pp11.2% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
South Africa and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with South Africa. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | South Africa | Mozambique | Zimbabwe | Namibia | Botswana | Lesotho |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 17.4%2022 | 81.4%2022 | 49.2%2019 | 22.9%2015 | 21.4%2015 | 41.9%2017 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 30.2%2022 | 89.1%2022 | 64.6%2019 | 35.0%2015 | 35.8%2015 | 56.8%2017 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 59.6%2022 | 96.3%2022 | 86.2%2019 | 61.1%2015 | 63.2%2015 | 83.8%2017 |
| National poverty rate | 37.9%2022 | 65.0%2022 | 38.3%2019 | 17.4%2015 | 16.1%2015 | 49.7%2017 |
| Gini index | 54.12022 | 49.62022 | 50.32019 | 59.12015 | 54.92015 | 44.92017 |
| Top 10% income share | 42.1%2022 | 40.8%2022 | 40.5%2019 | 47.2%2015 | 42.9%2015 | 32.9%2017 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 3.7%2022 | 4.7%2022 | 4.8%2019 | 2.8%2015 | 3.7%2015 | 4.6%2017 |
| Undernourishment | 11.2%2024 | 22.3%2024 | 18.4%2024 | 20.1%2024 | 18.2%2024 | — |
| Food insecurity | 20.9%2024 | — | 70.1%2024 | 54.0%2024 | 52.0%2024 | 61.6%2024 |