Prevalence of unaffordability (PUA) — Value — July 2026 (SOFI report) in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of unaffordability (PUA) — Value — July 2026 (SOFI report) was 57.9 % in 2025. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of unaffordability (PUA) — Value — July 2026 in South Africa, 2017–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 57.9 % for prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 in South Africa peaked at 60.9 % in 2017 and was at its lowest, 57.3 %, in 2022.
That places South Africa 35th out of 159 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Prevalence of unaffordability (PUA) — Value — July 2026 (SOFI report) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 60.9 % | — |
| 2018 | 59.5 % | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 58.6 % | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 59.9 % | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 58.1 % | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 57.3 % | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 57.5 % | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 57.6 % | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 57.9 % | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 57.9 % is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21.1 %, 2.7× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 57.9 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 65.5 %, 88% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 59.67 % | 58.6 % | 60.9 % | 3 |
| 2020s | 58.05 % | 57.3 % | 59.9 % | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 in South Africa?
- Prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 in South Africa was 57.9 % in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 60.9 % in 2017.
- What is the lowest prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.3 % in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 159 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of unaffordability (pua) — value — july 2026 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of unaffordability (PUA) — Value — July 2026 (SOFI report). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Indicators on the cost and affordability of a healthy diet (CoAHD) are estimated in each country and show the population’s physical and economic access to least expensive locally available foods to meet requirements for a healthy diet, as defined in food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs). The indicators use observed retail food consumer prices and income distributions to provide an operational measure of people’s access to locally available foods in the proportions needed for health. These indicators support efforts within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030 (SDG 2). They also support the monitoring of progress towards the objective of transforming agrifood systems by promoting “nutrition-sensitive agriculture”. FAO, in partnership with the Food Price for Nutrition of the World Bank, produces and reports the CoAHD indicators.