IMMP South Africa Studies

South Africa Country Study and Findings

In 2019 the ANU IDM team led the Individual Deprivation Measure South Africa country study. The South Africa study had two parts: (i) a national-level main sample, with a final sample size of 8,652 individuals; and (ii) a purposive sample of people with disabilities, which was implemented in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces. Through assessment across all aspects of poverty, we see how deprivation in each impacts on individuals, and how multiple deprivations combine to create multidimensional poverty.

The findings from South Africa are presented in a final report. We have also produced a series of videos that communicate the South Africa country study findings. All of these resources can be found on our 'Resources' page, filtered by South Africa.

Watch the video series here

Overview of the South Africa IDM Findings

South Africa Country Study Report

This report presents the results of the initial analysis of the IDM South Africa Country Study, for both the (i) a national-level main sample and (ii) a purposive sample of people with disabilities. This report also provides an overview of the IDM and describes the way deprivation is measured. The results for both samples are presented—overall and for four subgroup analyses (comparisons by gender, age, locality (rural/urban) and disability status). The report concludes with reflections on these analyses and a discussion of some of the technical issues for the IDM raised by the South African study.

Read the South Africa Report

South Africa COVID-19 Briefing Papers

IDM data collected in South Africa in 2019 can inform COVID-19 responses. Proper hygiene, physical distancing and the lockdown are key policy measures the Government of South Africa is promoting to contain the spread of the virus. However, there are challenges to implementing these measures — and data from the IDM provides some insights into these challenges — so we recommend some responses.

Access the briefing papers

Gender and Poverty

The findings from the South Africa Country Study demonstrate that poverty is gendered. Women and men both experience deep deprivation because of poverty, but the nature of deprivation is often different. Watch the video below to hear the key findings related to the gendered nature of poverty.

You can also download the briefing paper about multidimensional poverty and gender for further reading.

The Gendered Nature of Poverty

Gender and Poverty - Findings from South Africa

Disability and Poverty

The South Africa Country Study reveals key insights about the ways in which people with disability experience poverty, and the way in which disability can intersect with other characteristics to compound the effects of multidimensional poverty. Watch the short video below to understand the ways in which disability can impact on the experience of poverty.

You can also download the briefing paper about multidimensional poverty and disability in South Africa for further reading.

Download the Disability Briefing Paper

Disability and Multidimensional Poverty in South Africa

Detailed findings and further analysis

The South Africa Country Study provided robust data which has been analysed and communicated in a number of ways. On our website, you will find plenty of further reading in reports and briefing papers, and you can also access the findings through podcasts and videos.

Below, we highlight three important resources for further reading, but you can browse all our resources and filter by Geography and Topic to find what most interests you. Be sure to subscribe to receive our newsletter and keep informed about our upcoming events.