Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa

South Africa: Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income was 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices
World rank
97th
of 120 countries
All-time high
2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2022
All-time low
0.9932 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2000
Years of data
7
1993–2022

Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa, 1993–2022

00.511.522.51993200720221993: 1.1 international-$ in 2021 prices2000: 0.993 international-$ in 2021 prices2005: 1.3 international-$ in 2021 prices2008: 1.4 international-$ in 2021 prices2010: 1.7 international-$ in 2021 prices2014: 1.7 international-$ in 2021 prices2022: 2.3 international-$ in 2021 prices

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.

Analysis

The most recent figure for income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa is 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

The figure is up 34.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa peaked at 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.9932 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2000.

That places South Africa 97th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa, 1993 to 2022.
Year international-$ in 2021 prices Change
1993 1.12 international-$ in 2021 prices
2000 0.9932 international-$ in 2021 prices -11.2%
2005 1.34 international-$ in 2021 prices +35.2%
2008 1.41 international-$ in 2021 prices +4.7%
2010 1.73 international-$ in 2021 prices +23.3%
2014 1.7 international-$ in 2021 prices -1.8%
2022 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices +37.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.12 international-$ in 2021 prices 1.12 international-$ in 2021 prices 1.12 international-$ in 2021 prices 1
2000s 1.25 international-$ in 2021 prices 0.9932 international-$ in 2021 prices 1.41 international-$ in 2021 prices 3
2010s 1.72 international-$ in 2021 prices 1.7 international-$ in 2021 prices 1.73 international-$ in 2021 prices 2
2020s 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 94 Syria 2.47 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  2. 95 Senegal 2.43 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  3. 96 Côte d'Ivoire 2.37 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  4. 98 Pakistan 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  5. 99 Gambia 2.21 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  6. 100 Honduras 2.14 international-$ in 2021 prices compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa?
Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa was 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 2.33 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
What is the lowest income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.9932 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income?
South Africa ranks 97th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
Is income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/threshold-income-marking-the-poorest-decile-vs-mean-income-wb/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. mean income
Unit
international-$ in 2021 prices
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Level of income or consumption per day below which 10% of the population falls.