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

South Africa: Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor was 5.8% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
5.8%
Change on year
up 42.4%
World rank
34th
of 37 countries
All-time high
46.7%
in 2014
All-time low
4.1%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

010203040502005201320212005: 45.6 poorest2010: 40.1 poorest2014: 46.7 poorest2016: 7.1 poorest2018: 4.4 poorest2019: 8.1 poorest2020: 4.1 poorest2021: 5.8 poorest

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in poorest.

Analysis

In 2021, poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa stood at 5.8%.

The figure is up 42.4% on the previous year and down 85.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa peaked at 46.7% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2020.

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

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

Annual values for Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st quintile (poorest) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year poorest Change
2005 45.6%
2010 40.1% -12.1%
2014 46.7% +16.7%
2016 7.1% -84.8%
2018 4.4% -38.2%
2019 8.1% +84.0%
2020 4.1% -49.7%
2021 5.8% +42.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 5.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.4%, 18% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 45.6% 45.6% 45.6% 1
2010s 21.3% 4.4% 46.7% 5
2020s 4.9% 4.1% 5.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 Pakistan 12.3% compare
  2. 32 El Salvador 10.7% compare
  3. 33 Colombia 7.0% compare
  4. 35 Honduras 3.6% compare
  5. 36 Malawi 3.3% compare
  6. 37 Côte d'Ivoire 2.1% 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 headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa?
Poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa was 5.8% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 46.7% in 2014.
What is the lowest poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor?
South Africa ranks 34th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 85.6%. 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 Headcount reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor -1st quintile (poorest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-reduction-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-1st-quintile-poorest-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Headcount 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 headcount reduction due to SPL programs as % of pre-transfer poverty headcount