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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social was 39.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
39.7%
Change on year
down 42.1%
World rank
27th
of 34 countries
All-time high
342.7%
in 2018
All-time low
35.9%
in 2016
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

01002003002005201320212005: 46.92014: 108.82016: 35.92018: 342.72019: 62.62020: 68.62021: 39.7

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 39.7% for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in 2021.

That represents a change of down 42.1% on the previous year and down 63.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 342.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 35.9%, in 2016.

South Africa ranks 27th of 34 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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 in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 46.9%
2014 108.8% +132.1%
2016 35.9% -67.0%
2018 342.7% +855.9%
2019 62.6% -81.7%
2020 68.6% +9.6%
2021 39.7% -42.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 39.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54.3%, 73% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 46.9% 46.9% 46.9% 1
2010s 137.5% 35.9% 342.7% 4
2020s 54.2% 39.7% 68.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 25 Pakistan 39.8% compare
  2. 26 Dominican Republic 39.7% compare
  3. 28 Argentina 37.4% compare
  4. 29 Peru 34.9% compare
  5. 30 Panama 33.9% 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 39.7% 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 342.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 35.9% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 27th 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 63.5%. 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. 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 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-insurance/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Insurance
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 345 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