Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social was 73.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
73.7%
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
15th
of 34 countries
All-time high
298.3%
in 2018
All-time low
56.6%
in 2016
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

501001502002503002005201320212005: 172.9 preT2014: 212.6 preT2016: 56.6 preT2018: 298.3 preT2019: 76 preT2020: 76.5 preT2021: 73.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 73.7% for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in 2021.

That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 65.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 298.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 56.6%, in 2016.

South Africa ranks 15th of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 172.9%
2014 212.6% +22.9%
2016 56.6% -73.4%
2018 298.3% +427.3%
2019 76.0% -74.5%
2020 76.5% +0.7%
2021 73.7% -3.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 73.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.9%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 172.9% 172.9% 172.9% 1
2010s 160.8% 56.6% 298.3% 4
2020s 75.1% 73.7% 76.5% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 12 Kazakhstan 82.8% compare
  2. 13 Vietnam 78.7% compare
  3. 14 Kyrgyzstan 77.7% compare
  4. 16 Mongolia 72.1% compare
  5. 17 Armenia 71.3% compare
  6. 18 Pakistan 70.8% compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa was 73.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 298.3% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 56.6% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 15th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-insurance-pret/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-insurance-pret/south-africa/">Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 347 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Total transfer amount received by all beneficiaries in a population group as a share of the total welfare of beneficiaries in that group