Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income was 20.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
20.4%
World rank
8th
of 130 countries
All-time high
25.4%
in 1993
All-time low
20.3%
in 2005
Years of data
7
1993–2022
Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa is 20.4%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa peaked at 25.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 20.3%, in 2005.
That places South Africa 8th out of 130 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 25.4% | — |
| 2000 | 25.4% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 20.3% | -20.1% |
| 2008 | 23.1% | +13.8% |
| 2010 | 22.7% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 22.3% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 20.4% | -8.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 20.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.8%, 1.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 20.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.1%, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.4% | 25.4% | 25.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.9% | 20.3% | 25.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 22.3% | 22.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.01 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0158 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -25.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa?
- Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in South Africa was 20.4% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 25.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.3% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 130 countries with data for 2022.
- Is proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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