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

South Africa: Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -extreme was 12.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
12.6%
Change on year
up 64.4%
World rank
34th
of 37 countries
All-time high
75.0%
in 2010
All-time low
7.7%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

0204060802005201320212005: 70.1 <$2.15 a day2010: 75 <$2.15 a day2014: 74.2 <$2.15 a day2016: 11.8 <$2.15 a day2018: 11.8 <$2.15 a day2019: 14.2 <$2.15 a day2020: 7.7 <$2.15 a day2021: 12.6 <$2.15 a day

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in <$2.15 a day.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 12.6% for poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme in 2021.

That represents a change of up 64.4% on the previous year and down 83.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme in South Africa peaked at 75.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 34th of 37 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year <$2.15 a day Change
2005 70.1%
2010 75.0% +7.0%
2014 74.2% -1.1%
2016 11.8% -84.1%
2018 11.8% +0.2%
2019 14.2% +20.1%
2020 7.7% -45.8%
2021 12.6% +64.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 12.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 91.7%, 14% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 70.1% 70.1% 70.1% 1
2010s 37.4% 11.8% 75.0% 5
2020s 10.2% 7.7% 12.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 Paraguay 46.8% compare
  2. 32 El Salvador 44.4% compare
  3. 33 Colombia 14.3% compare
  4. 35 Côte d'Ivoire 10.8% compare
  5. 36 Honduras 8.5% compare
  6. 37 Malawi 1.7% 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 -extreme in South Africa?
Poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme in South Africa was 12.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 75.0% in 2010.
What is the lowest poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme?
South Africa ranks 34th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty gap reduction (%) - all social protection and labor -extreme rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 83.2%. 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 -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -extreme in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-gap-reduction-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day)
Unit
<$2.15 a day
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 371 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

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