Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor in South Africa

South Africa: Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor was 38.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
38.1%
Change on year
up 29.0%
World rank
28th
of 36 countries
All-time high
38.1%
in 2019
All-time low
24.4%
in 2005
Years of data
6
2005–2021

Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor in South Africa, 2005–2021

0102030402005201320212005: 24.4 <$2.15 a day2016: 34.5 <$2.15 a day2018: 32 <$2.15 a day2019: 38.1 <$2.15 a day2020: 29.5 <$2.15 a day2021: 38.1 <$2.15 a day

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor in South Africa is 38.1%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 29.0% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor in South Africa peaked at 38.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 24.4%, in 2005.

That places South Africa 28th out of 36 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year <$2.15 a day Change
2005 24.4%
2016 34.5% +41.6%
2018 32.0% -7.2%
2019 38.1% +19.1%
2020 29.5% -22.6%
2021 38.1% +29.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 24.4% 24.4% 24.4% 1
2010s 34.9% 32.0% 38.1% 3
2020s 33.8% 29.5% 38.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 25 Ecuador 50.1% compare
  2. 26 Bolivia 44.8% compare
  3. 27 Honduras 40.1% compare
  4. 29 Cote d'Ivoire 36.0% compare
  5. 30 Panama 35.7% compare
  6. 31 Colombia 33.5% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor in South Africa?
Poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor in South Africa was 38.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 24.4% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor?
South Africa ranks 28th out of 36 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty gap reduction (%) - all private transfers -extreme poor rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-gap-reduction-percent-all-private-transfers-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Gap reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -extreme poor (<$2.15 a day)
Unit
<$2.15 a day
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 350 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

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