Trends in the working poverty rate (WPR) in post-apartheid South Africa, 1997–2012

Figures & data

Table 1. Poverty headcounts (P₀) for South Africa, 1997–2012 (per capita).

Headcount (P0)
	1997	1999	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	Relative change 1997–2012
	Z = 323
All	59.53 (0.64)	63.65 (0.65)	60.23 (0.76)	54.84 (0.81)	52.36 (0.73)	50.85 (0.71)	48.06 (0.69)	−19.27†
Workers	28.79 (0. 61)	34.40 (0.65)	28.85 (0.69)	23.78 (0.64)	23.81 (0.62)	22.87 (0.56)	21.40 (0.53)	−25.67†
	Z = 219
All	48.85 (0.63)	54.33 (0.66)	49.35 (0.76)	42.86 (0.78)	40.19 (0.67)	38.85 (0.64)	35.46 (0.61)	−27.41†
Workers	19.44 (0.49)	25.97 (0.57)	20.02 (0.57)	14.79 (0.47)	15.04 (0.49)	14.52 (0.43)	13.76 (0.43)	−29.22†

†Denotes a significant change in the poverty headcount between 1997 and 2012 at the 95% level of confidence.

††Denotes a significant change in the poverty headcount between 1997 and 2012 at the 90% level of confidence.

Notes: The data are weighted (revised weights). Standard errors in brackets.

Poverty lines in 2000 prices.

Source: Own calculations from the OHSs (1997–1999) and the GHSs (2004–2012)

Table 2. Poverty headcount (P₀) rates for South Africa, 2004–2012 (per capita).

Headcount (P0)
	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	Relative change 2004–2012
	Z = 593
All	72.19 (0.70)	68.87 (0.79)	67.35 (0.70)	65.75 (0.70)	62.75 (0.72)	−13.08†
Adults	66.29 (0.74)	62.40 (0.83)	61.00 (0.71)	59.78 (0.71)	55.81 (0.73)	−15.81†
Workers	45.10 (0.87)	40.64 (0.89)	41.11 (0.79)	39.50 (0.74)	36.33 (0.75)	−19.45†
	Z = 323
All	60.23 (0.76)	54.84 (0.81)	52.36 (0.73)	50.85 (0.71)	48.06 (0.69)	−20.21†
Adults	53.17 (0.76)	47.31 (0.80)	45.38 (0.70)	44.50 (0.68)	41.04 (0.65)	−22.81†
Workers	28.85 (0.69)	23.78 (0.64)	23.81 (0.62)	22.87 (0.56)	21.40 (0.53)	−25.82†
	Z = 219
All	49.35 (0.76)	42.86 (0.78)	40.19 (0.67)	38.85 (0.64)	35.46 (0.61)	−28.15†
Adults	42.14 (0.72)	35.73 (0.73)	33.74 (0.61)	33.15 (0.59)	29.08 (0.54)	−31.00†
Workers	20.02 (0.57)	14.79 (0.47)	15.04 (0.49)	14.52 (0.43)	13.76 (0.43)	−31.27†

†Denotes a significant change in the poverty headcount between 1997 and 2012 at the 95% level of confidence

†† Denotes a significant change in the poverty headcount between 1997 and 2012 at the 90% level of confidence

Notes: The data are weighted (revised weights)

Standard errors in brackets.

All poverty lines in 2000 prices.

Source: Own calculations from the GHSs (2004–2012).

Table 3. The working poverty gap (P₁) in South Africa, 2004–2012.

Poverty Gap (P1)
	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	Relative change 2004–2012
	Z = 323
All	35.11 (0. 55)	30.59 (0.54)	27.82 (0.45)	27.25 (0.44)	24.79 (0.41)	−29.39†
Workers	14.37 (0. 39)	10.52 (0.32)	10.43 (0.33)	10.34 (0.32)	10.04 (0.33)	−30.13†
	Z = 219
All	25.73 (0.48)	21.72 (0.46)	19.03 (0.36)	18.74 (0.35)	16.69 (0.33)	−35.13†
Workers	9.53 (0.32)	6.28 (0.24)	6.22 (0.26)	6.33 (0.26)	6.47 (0.29)	−32.11†

†Denotes a significant change in the poverty gap between 1997 and 2012 at the 95% level of confidence.

†† Denotes a significant change in the poverty gap between 1997 and 2012 at the 90% level of confidence.

Notes: The data are weighted (revised weights).

Standard errors in brackets.

All poverty lines in 2000 prices.

Household well-being is estimated as average per capita total household monthly income.

Source: Own calculations from the GHSs (2004–2012)

Table 4. Percentage of the poor who live with an employed household member, 2004–2012.

	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	Relative change 2004–2012
Z = 219	44.43 (0.29)	40.00 (0.31)	41.99 (0.29)	42.64 (0.30)	43.85 (0.32)	−1.31
Z = 323	49.81 (0.26)	46.69 (0.28)	49.08 (0.25)	49.28 (0.26)	49.42 (0.27)	−0.78
Z = 593	56.56 (0.24)	55.26 (0.25)	57.93 (0.22)	58.49 (0.22)	58.29 (0.23)	3.06†

†Denotes a significant change in the poverty headcount between 1997 and 2012 at the 95% level of confidence.

†† Denotes a significant change in the poverty headcount between 1997 and 2012 at the 90% level of confidence.

Source: Own calculations from the GHSs

Notes: The data are weighted.

Standard errors in brackets.

Table 5. Main source of household income among the working poor (Z = 323), 2004–2012.

	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	Relative change 2004–2012
Salaries/wages	70.48 (0.69)	72.15 (0.77)	72.19 (0.66)	67.08 (0.72)	65.18 (0.74)	−7.52†
Remittances	4.64 (0.31)	4.47 (0.33)	3.82 (0.26)	3.38 (0.26)	2.79 (0.50)	−39.87†
Pensions and grants	13.39 (0.51)	14.44 (0.54)	18.85 (0.56)	18.14 (0.56)	16.26 (0.52)	21.43†
Sales of farm products and services	1.76 (0.20)	3.13 (0.43)	1.46 (0.17)	0.10 (0.04)	0.06 (0.03)	−96.59†
Other non-farm income	9.44 (0.43)	4.71 (0.36)	2.99 (0.25)	0.65 (0.12)	0.35 (0.08)	–
No income	0.30 (0.11)	0.61 (0.16)	0.68 (0.17)	0.05 (0.02)	0.02 (0.02)	−93.33†
Real monthly earnings (real 2000 prices) of the working poor	525.39 (6.89)	555.94 (7.99)	527.13 (6.88)	557.78 (7.09)	592.80 (8.07)	12.83†

†Denotes a significant change between 2004 and 2012 at the 95% level of confidence.

†† Denotes a significant change between 2004 and 2012 at the 90% level of confidence.

Notes: The data are weighted (revised weights).

Standard errors in brackets.

NB: The category of ‘other non-farm income’ was captured differently after 2008 and is not directly comparable with the earlier GHSs.

Source: Own calculations from the GHSs.

Table 6. Social grant receipt among the working poor (Z = 323), 1997–2012.

	1997	1999	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012
Total number of grants received (by the household)	0.23 (0.01)	0.18 (0.01)	0.90 (0.02)	1.20 (0.03)	1.49 (0.03)	1.65 (0.03)	1.68 (0.03)
Percentage with at least one grant	18.79 (0.44)	15.42 (0.42)	51.16 (0.77)	54.80 (0.89)	61.72 (0.78)	65.55 (0.78)	63.12 (0.85)

Notes: The data are weighted.

Standard errors in brackets.

Source: Own calculations from the 1997 OHS and the 2006 GHS.

Table 7. Relative contributions (%) to reducing the working poverty headcount (P₀) by income source, 1997–2012.

	1997	2004	2010	2012
Earned income	95.29 (0.15)	91.73 (0.29)	90.26 (0.31)	88.96 (0.28)
Grant income	1.62 (0.07)	1.93 (0.09)	2.99 (0.10)	2.90 (0.09)
Other income	2.46 (0.14)	6.34 (0.28)	6.75 (0.31)	8.14 (0.27)

Notes: The data are weighted.

Income sources are expressed in real monthly per capita terms (Z = R323).

Standard errors in brackets.

Source: Own calculations from the GHSs using the DASP module developed by Araar and Duclos (2007).

Table 8. Relative contributions to reducing the working poverty gap (P₁) by income source, 1997–2012.

	1997	2004	2010	2012
Earned income	92.62 (0.15)	87.51 (0.26)	84.97 (0.28)	83.89 (0.26)
Grant income	4.54 (0.08)	6.62 (0.12)	8.32 (0.12)	8.29 (0.11)
Other income	2.85 (0.12)	5.87 (0.24)	6.71 (0.27)	7.81 (0.24)

Notes: The data are weighted.

Income sources are expressed in real monthly per capita terms (Z = R323).

Standard errors in brackets.

Source: Own calculations from the GHSs using the DASP module developed by Araar and Duclos (2007).

Araar, A & Duclos, J-Y, 2007. DASP: Distributive analysis STATA package. PEP, CIRPÉE and World Bank, Université Laval.

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