Pretoria: The government has expressed approval of the latest Poverty Trends in South Africa report published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), revealing a significant reduction in poverty levels over the past 17 years.
According to South African Government News Agency, the report indicates that the percentage of South Africans living below the Lower-Bound Poverty Line (LBPL), defined as R1,300 per person per month in 2023, has decreased to 37.9% in 2023. This marks a substantial 19.6 percentage point decline since 2006.
The findings show that the greatest advances in poverty reduction have been among black African and Coloured populations, underscoring the effectiveness of targeted social and economic interventions. However, the report also identifies areas that require ongoing attention, such as improving the economic status of women and addressing the rising poverty among White and Indian communities.
The report reaffirms the country’s progress in the right direction, highlighting that sustained investment in social protection, job creation, education, and economic support measures is producing positive outcomes.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) emphasized the government’s commitment to collaborating with various sectors of society to accelerate poverty reduction and expand access to economic opportunities. Through coordinated policies and targeted programs, the country aims to continue its pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive South Africa.
Drawn from the Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) 2022/23 and released on Thursday, the report notes that the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, North West, and Limpopo continue to experience the highest poverty headcounts, regardless of the poverty line applied. Collectively, these provinces were home to nearly 60% of South Africa’s poor in 2023, with KwaZulu-Natal alone accounting for about one in four.
Conversely, Western Cape and Gauteng remain the provinces with the lowest poverty rates in the country. However, Gauteng has seen a notable increase in its share of the poor between 2015 and 2023, now accounting for about 20% of the country’s impoverished population.
The report also highlights that while progress has been most significant among black African and Coloured populations, there has been a slight increase in poverty rates among White and Indian/Asian groups between 2015 and 2023. Despite this, the overall poverty share of these groups remains comparatively small, with black Africans comprising 93.6% of all poor persons in 2023.