Measuring poverty in South Africa

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will launch a Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) report on poverty measurement on the evening of Wednesday 6 September.

Measuring poverty in South Africa examines four different ways of measuring poverty, and includes an innovative range of poverty maps, which are the outcome of a joint research project between Stats SA and the World Bank.

The first method of measuring poverty discussed in the report is based on household expenditure.

The second results in the calculation of two distinct South African development indices – household infrastructure and household circumstances.

The third considers inequality of income among the employed, based on responses given to four consecutive October household surveys (1995-1998).

The fourth approach entails a social accounting matrix (SAM), based on household income. This shows the relationship between income generation and consumption at a household level.

Measuring poverty in South Africa will be available on the Stats SA website, in .pdf format, at 7:30 on Thursday 7 September.