Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) was 28.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
28.7%
Change on year
down 11.3%
World rank
5th
of 30 countries
All-time high
62.0%
in 2005
All-time low
28.7%
in 2021
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa, 2005–2021

02040602005201320212005: 62 preT2010: 48 preT2014: 58.1 preT2016: 35.1 preT2018: 32.3 preT2019: 33.3 preT2020: 32.3 preT2021: 28.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa is 28.7%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is down 11.3% on the previous year and down 40.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa peaked at 62.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2021.

That places South Africa 5th out of 30 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 62.0%
2010 48.0% -22.5%
2014 58.1% +21.0%
2016 35.1% -39.6%
2018 32.3% -8.1%
2019 33.3% +3.3%
2020 32.3% -3.0%
2021 28.7% -11.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 28.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.8%, 4.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 62.0% 62.0% 62.0% 1
2010s 41.4% 32.3% 58.1% 5
2020s 30.5% 28.7% 32.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Armenia 32.1% compare
  2. 3 Kosovo 31.0% compare
  3. 3 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 31.0% compare
  4. 6 Serbia 25.4% compare
  5. 7 Costa Rica 22.0% compare
  6. 8 Kyrgyzstan 20.2% compare

See the full ranking of 30 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa was 28.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 2005.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%)?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 30 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-unconditional-cash-transfers-pret/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-unconditional-cash-transfers-pret/south-africa/">Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
30 places, 255 data points, 2004–2022
Last refreshed

Percentage of program beneficiaries in a quintile relative to the total number of beneficiaries in the population