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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social was 69.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
69.6%
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
4th
of 36 countries
All-time high
424.8%
in 2018
All-time low
37.0%
in 2016
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

01002003004002005201320212005: 57.42010: 54.62014: 72.32016: 372018: 424.82019: 81.72020: 78.82021: 69.6

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social in South Africa stood at 69.6%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 424.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.0%, in 2016.

South Africa ranks 4th of 36 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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 Protection and Labor -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 57.4%
2010 54.6% -4.9%
2014 72.3% +32.4%
2016 37.0% -48.8%
2018 424.8% +1047.6%
2019 81.7% -80.8%
2020 78.8% -3.5%
2021 69.6% -11.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 69.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.8%, 1.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 57.4% 57.4% 57.4% 1
2010s 134.1% 37.0% 424.8% 5
2020s 74.2% 69.6% 78.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Poland 89.5% compare
  2. 2 Serbia 87.1% compare
  3. 3 Georgia 83.6% compare
  4. 5 Belarus 67.6% compare
  5. 6 Thailand 67.5% compare
  6. 7 Romania 65.3% compare

See the full ranking of 36 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 69.6% 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 424.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 37.0% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 36 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 up 27.5%. 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 Protection and Labor -urban. 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-protection-and-labor-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 367 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