Poverty among older people in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa has one of the most rapidly ageing populations in Africa, and the proportion of older persons has been increasing steadily over time. While living longer is a significant achievement, it is equally concerning as ageing is occurring in a context where poverty is wide-spread. This study uses data from the 2017 South African National Income Dynamics Survey to explore poverty among older people. The study examines key socio-demographic and economic determinants of poverty among older people in South Africa. The results indicate that more older people are living below the upper-bound poverty line in com-parison to those who are food poor. Older Black African women with lower levels of education who have never been married, have a higher risk of living in poverty. More older people accessing a grant live in poverty. This demonstrates the importance of social protection in alleviating household poverty.