This is a list of South African provinces by poverty rate as of 2026. The international poverty rate used by the World Bank is listed below.
The estimates can therefore vary from other estimates, like the national poverty rate.
Percentage of the population of South Africa living on less than $2.15, $3.65, and $6.85 a day, international dollars (2017 PPP) as per the World Bank.
Below is a table showing the percentage of the population living on less than the poverty thresholds.
| Province | $2.15 | $3.65 | $6.85 | Estimate Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 20.5% | 40.0% | 61.6% | 2014 | |
| 1 | Eastern Cape | 35.6% | 59.1% | 77.3% | 2014 |
| 2 | Limpopo | 34.3% | 56.9% | 77.1% | 2014 |
| 3 | KwaZulu-Natal | 28.1% | 52.4% | 73.1% | 2014 |
| 4 | North West | 23.2% | 46.9% | 70.9% | 2014 |
| 5 | Mpumalanga | 20.3% | 42.4% | 65.9% | 2014 |
| 6 | Northern Cape | 20.3% | 40.6% | 66.8% | 2014 |
| 7 | Free State | 16.3% | 36.2% | 62.5% | 2014 |
| 8 | Gauteng | 6.9% | 19.0% | 40.9% | 2014 |
| 9 | Western Cape | 6.8% | 21.3% | 43.8% | 2014 |
