Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st in South Africa

South Africa: Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st was 33.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
33.6%
Change on year
up 11.6%
World rank
5th
of 35 countries
All-time high
36.5%
in 2019
All-time low
20.0%
in 2005
Years of data
6
2005–2021

Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st in South Africa, 2005–2021

0102030402005201320212005: 202016: 35.72018: 242019: 36.52020: 30.22021: 33.6

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st in South Africa is 33.6%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 11.6% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st in South Africa peaked at 36.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 5th of 35 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st quintile (poorest) -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 20.0%
2016 35.7% +78.5%
2018 24.0% -32.6%
2019 36.5% +51.9%
2020 30.2% -17.4%
2021 33.6% +11.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% 1
2010s 32.1% 24.0% 36.5% 3
2020s 31.9% 30.2% 33.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Republic of Moldova 49.7% compare
  2. 3 Thailand 39.1% compare
  3. 4 Pakistan 36.9% compare
  4. 6 Dominican Republic 32.1% compare
  5. 7 Kosovo 31.1% compare
  6. 7 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 31.1% compare

See the full ranking of 35 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st in South Africa?
Poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st in South Africa was 33.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 2019.
What is the lowest poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 35 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty headcount reduction (%) - all private transfers -1st rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. 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 Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st quintile (poorest) -rural. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-reduction-percent-all-private-transfers-1st-quintile-poorest-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - All Private Transfers -1st quintile (poorest) -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
35 places, 334 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

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