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 64.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
64.7%
Change on year
down 14.7%
World rank
3rd
of 37 countries
All-time high
160.6%
in 2018
All-time low
37.0%
in 2016
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

2550751001251502005201320212005: 52.62010: 42.32014: 60.62016: 372018: 160.62019: 41.42020: 75.82021: 64.7

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa stood at 64.7%.

The figure is down 14.7% on the previous year and up 52.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 160.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.0%, in 2016.

South Africa ranks 3rd of 37 countries on this measure, 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 in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 52.6%
2010 42.3% -19.6%
2014 60.6% +43.2%
2016 37.0% -39.0%
2018 160.6% +334.6%
2019 41.4% -74.2%
2020 75.8% +83.2%
2021 64.7% -14.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 64.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.4%, 2.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 52.6% 52.6% 52.6% 1
2010s 68.4% 37.0% 160.6% 5
2020s 70.2% 64.7% 75.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Poland 73.3% compare
  2. 2 Serbia 67.4% compare
  3. 4 Belarus 63.9% compare
  4. 5 Romania 62.9% compare
  5. 6 Côte d'Ivoire 62.6% 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 64.7% 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 160.6% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 37.0% in 2016.
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 52.8%. 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 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor. 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 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-2nd-quintile-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor
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