Poverty levels declined significantly since 2006 - according to Stats SA

New data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) shows that while poverty remains widespread, the country has made steady progress over the past two decades. 

According to the latest Income and Expenditure Survey in 2022/2023, about 23.2 million people were living below the lower-bound poverty line (R1 300 per person per month). This is a notable improvement from the mid-2000s says Stat's SA's report 'Poverty trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 and 2023'.

"In 2006, about 57% of the population was poor. In 2009, it was 55%; in 2015, it was 40%. Now we are sitting at 37.9%, which means poverty is going down," says Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke.

Stats SA measures poverty using income, expenditure and consumer price data.

The report shows that absolute poverty is also declining.

People living below the food poverty line (R777 per person per month) made up 17.6% of the population in 2023, down from 27.4% in 2006.

That translates to about 10.8 million South Africans who still struggle to afford enough food, roughly 2.2 million fewer than in 2006.

There have also been improvements in the upper-bound poverty line (R2 635 per person per month) - though they remain high.

In 2023, 66.7% of South Africans lived below this level, compared to 78.7% in 2006, showing that while progress has been made, most people are still living with very limited financial security.

Maluleke notes that government interventions, including social grants, are helping to push poverty down over time. 

KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, North West, and Limpopo are still experiencing the highest poverty levels, regardless of the poverty line applied.

Meanwhile, progress in reducing poverty has been most notable among Black African and Coloured populations.

To listen to Risenga Maluleke in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, click the audio below: