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

South Africa: Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor was 6.1% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
6.1%
Change on year
up 62.6%
World rank
34th
of 37 countries
All-time high
50.7%
in 2010
All-time low
3.7%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

010203040502005201320212005: 42.6 <$2.15 a day2010: 50.7 <$2.15 a day2014: 46.9 <$2.15 a day2016: 6.2 <$2.15 a day2018: 4.4 <$2.15 a day2019: 7.4 <$2.15 a day2020: 3.7 <$2.15 a day2021: 6.1 <$2.15 a day

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 6.1% for poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in 2021.

The figure is up 62.6% on the previous year and down 88.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa peaked at 50.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 34th out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year <$2.15 a day Change
2005 42.6%
2010 50.7% +19.0%
2014 46.9% -7.4%
2016 6.2% -86.8%
2018 4.4% -28.8%
2019 7.4% +67.8%
2020 3.7% -49.7%
2021 6.1% +62.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 42.6% 42.6% 42.6% 1
2010s 23.1% 4.4% 50.7% 5
2020s 4.9% 3.7% 6.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 El Salvador 31.7% compare
  2. 32 Pakistan 26.2% compare
  3. 33 Colombia 10.8% compare
  4. 35 Honduras 5.6% compare
  5. 36 Côte d'Ivoire 4.1% compare
  6. 37 Malawi 0.7% 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 headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa?
Poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor in South Africa was 6.1% 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 50.7% in 2010.
What is the lowest poverty headcount reduction (%) - all social protection and labor recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.7% 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 88.0%. 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 Headcount 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 Headcount reduction (%) - All Social Protection and Labor in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-reduction-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-extreme-poor-2-15-a/south-africa/

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About this data

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