<p>I was researching poverty in Africa and was reading about their daily wages. 
Based on the article linked, <strong>2/3 of Africans live on less than $1.25 USD, a day</strong>.</p>

<p>However, what this article and many other ones don't elaborate on is how that $1.25 is used. </p>

<p>I would like to better understand how African families use their money, and am especially interested to learn how much money goes into <em>savings</em>. For example, maybe 1 dollar is used for food and other necessities, and other $0.25 is kept as savings. </p>

<p>If anyone has any answers or data that may help answer this question, I appreciate any help. Thanks.</p>

<p>Link: 
<a href="http://global-growing.org/en/content/fact-7-about-three-quarters-african-population-live-less-2-half-population-less-125-day" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://global-growing.org/en/content/fact-7-about-three-quarters-african-population-live-less-2-half-population-less-125-day</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T23:26:43.163Z
Your linked article actually says  51 per cent of sub-Saharan Africans live on  $1.25 (€0.94) per day.  That is rather out of date.  For example the [World Bank](http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/region/SSF) say that in 2013 42.3% of the population below $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) and the proportion may have fallen since then.  At that level, saving is likely to be minimal, except for buying the odd animal
Henry
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-08T01:21:53.513Z
You're right, the data's outdated. However, I was still looking to understand what percent of wages goes into their savings. Do you have any data for that? You may be right, but I have yet to find any evidence, so it's only an assumption right now.
F16Falcon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-11T14:28:53.223Z
Just something I would like to add. Looking at Africans as a homogeneous groups is really going to impact any sort of economic analysis. Maybe reconsider your question in terms of a single SSA country.
Joseph
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-11T22:08:39.580Z
Good point, different locations and groups probably differ significantly. However, I think I shouldn't to be too picky simply because of the rarity of this kind of data. At this moment, anything helps :)
F16Falcon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T03:19:27.787Z
What's savings?  If someone takes \$10 and buys a goat for milk and potentially for food, how should that appear?  Is it an investment (savings)?  Consumption?  Food (milk and meat)?  What if it's a billy goat to add to five females?  No milk value and kept for breeding rather than eating.   Then someone buys seeds for \$2.  It will eventually be food, but it's currently an investment.  I suspect most Africans grow or raise food, buying tools and animals as they can.  I.e. I suspect that paying \$1 for ready-to-cook food is not how it works.
Brythan
<data-request><money><wages><poverty><saving>
How Africans use their wages?
F16Falcon
# How Africans use their wages?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-07)

I was researching poverty in Africa and was reading about their daily wages.
Based on the article linked, **2/3 of Africans live on less than $1.25 USD, a day**.

However, what this article and many other ones don't elaborate on is how that $1.25 is used.

I would like to better understand how African families use their money, and am especially interested to learn how much money goes into *savings*. For example, maybe 1 dollar is used for food and other necessities, and other $0.25 is kept as savings.

If anyone has any answers or data that may help answer this question, I appreciate any help. Thanks.

Link:
<http://global-growing.org/en/content/fact-7-about-three-quarters-african-population-live-less-2-half-population-less-125-day>

**Tags:** data-request, money, wages, poverty, saving
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Your linked article actually says  51 per cent of sub-Saharan Africans live on  $1.25 (€0.94) per day.  That is rather out of date.  For example the [World Bank](http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/region/SSF) say that in 2013 42.3% of the population below $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) and the proportion may have fallen since then.  At that level, saving is likely to be minimal, except for buying the odd animal  
> **username_0**: You're right, the data's outdated. However, I was still looking to understand what percent of wages goes into their savings. Do you have any data for that? You may be right, but I have yet to find any evidence, so it's only an assumption right now.  
> **username_2**: Just something I would like to add. Looking at Africans as a homogeneous groups is really going to impact any sort of economic analysis. Maybe reconsider your question in terms of a single SSA country.  
> **username_0**: Good point, different locations and groups probably differ significantly. However, I think I shouldn't to be too picky simply because of the rarity of this kind of data. At this moment, anything helps :)  
> **username_3**: What's savings?  If someone takes \$10 and buys a goat for milk and potentially for food, how should that appear?  Is it an investment (savings)?  Consumption?  Food (milk and meat)?  What if it's a billy goat to add to five females?  No milk value and kept for breeding rather than eating.   Then someone buys seeds for \$2.  It will eventually be food, but it's currently an investment.  I suspect most Africans grow or raise food, buying tools and animals as they can.  I.e. I suspect that paying \$1 for ready-to-cook food is not how it works.  

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## 0 answers

