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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) was 28.5% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
28.5%
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
1st
of 29 countries
All-time high
36.3%
in 2005
All-time low
23.2%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

0102030402005201320212005: 36.32010: 23.22014: 31.72016: 34.82018: 31.92019: 33.12020: 32.32021: 28.5

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 28.5% for beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in 2021.

The figure is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 22.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa peaked at 36.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 23.2%, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 1st of 29 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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 in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 36.3%
2010 23.2% -35.9%
2014 31.7% +36.2%
2016 34.8% +10.0%
2018 31.9% -8.4%
2019 33.1% +3.9%
2020 32.3% -2.6%
2021 28.5% -11.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 28.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3%, 21.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.3% 36.3% 36.3% 1
2010s 30.9% 23.2% 34.8% 5
2020s 30.4% 28.5% 32.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Georgia 16.2% compare
  2. 3 Pakistan 12.7% compare
  3. 4 Colombia 8.8% compare

See the full ranking of 29 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 28.5% 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 36.3% in 2005.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 23.2% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%)?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 29 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 up 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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. 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 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-unconditional-cash-transfers/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
29 places, 240 data points, 2004–2022
Last refreshed

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