Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st in South Africa

South Africa: Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st was 12.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
12.0%
Change on year
up 41.2%
World rank
33rd
of 37 countries
All-time high
74.2%
in 2014
All-time low
8.5%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060802005201320212005: 72.4 poorest2010: 66.8 poorest2014: 74.2 poorest2016: 13.5 poorest2018: 11.5 poorest2019: 15.4 poorest2020: 8.5 poorest2021: 12 poorest

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in poorest.

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st in South Africa is 12.0%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 41.2% on the previous year and down 82.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st in South Africa peaked at 74.2% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 33rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st quintile (poorest) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year poorest Change
2005 72.4%
2010 66.8% -7.7%
2014 74.2% +10.9%
2016 13.5% -81.7%
2018 11.5% -15.2%
2019 15.4% +33.7%
2020 8.5% -44.6%
2021 12.0% +41.2%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 12.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 24% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 72.4% 72.4% 72.4% 1
2010s 36.3% 11.5% 74.2% 5
2020s 10.3% 8.5% 12.0% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 30 Peru 24.2% compare
  2. 31 Paraguay 21.7% compare
  3. 32 El Salvador 16.2% compare
  4. 34 Colombia 9.2% compare
  5. 35 Honduras 6.7% compare
  6. 36 Malawi 6.6% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st in South Africa?
Poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st in South Africa was 12.0% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 74.2% in 2014.
What is the lowest poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st?
South Africa ranks 33rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -1st rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 82.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st quintile (poorest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-gap-reduction-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-1st-quintile-poorest/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st quintile (poorest)
Unit
poorest
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 372 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Poverty gap reduction due to SPL programs as % of pre-transfer poverty gap