Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and was 75.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
75.1%
Change on year
up 15.9%
World rank
3rd
of 37 countries
All-time high
75.1%
in 2021
All-time low
36.2%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060802005201320212005: 45.4 preT2010: 36.2 preT2014: 53.2 preT2016: 49.3 preT2018: 74.7 preT2019: 66.5 preT2020: 64.9 preT2021: 75.1 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa stood at 75.1%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 107.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 75.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2010.

That places South Africa 3rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 45.4%
2010 36.2% -20.3%
2014 53.2% +47.2%
2016 49.3% -7.4%
2018 74.7% +51.5%
2019 66.5% -10.9%
2020 64.9% -2.5%
2021 75.1% +15.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 75.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 2.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 45.4% 45.4% 45.4% 1
2010s 56.0% 36.2% 74.7% 5
2020s 70.0% 64.9% 75.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Poland 83.1% compare
  2. 2 Romania 75.4% compare
  3. 4 Thailand 70.5% compare
  4. 5 Serbia 69.0% compare
  5. 6 Belarus 68.3% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 75.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 75.1% in 2021.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 3rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 107.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-2nd-quintile-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 372 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