SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate in South Africa
South Africa: SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate was 14.47 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate in South Africa stood at 14.47.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate in South Africa peaked at 26.93 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 13.39, in 2011.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 117 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.63 | — |
| 2001 | 26.92 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 26.72 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 26.93 | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 25.17 | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 23.29 | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 15.77 | -32.3% |
| 2007 | 15.24 | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 14.18 | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 13.99 | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 13.47 | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 13.39 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 13.42 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 13.69 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 14.06 | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 14.24 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 14.3 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 14.16 | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 14.02 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 14.09 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 14.96 | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 14.44 | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 14.33 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 14.39 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 14.44 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 14.47 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.48 | 13.99 | 26.93 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.88 | 13.39 | 14.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.5 | 14.33 | 14.96 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate in South Africa?
- Sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate in South Africa was 14.47 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.93 in 2003.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.39 in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 117 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 1.1.1: working poverty rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
The series is part of the ILO modelled estimates and is harmonized to account for differences in national data and scope of coverage, collection and tabulation methodologies as well as for other country-specific factors. The working poverty rate conveys the percentage of employed persons living in poverty in spite of being employed. Poverty is defined using the international poverty line of US$3 per day in purchasing power parity (PPP). For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.