Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and was 62.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
62.8%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
3rd
of 37 countries
All-time high
108.5%
in 2018
All-time low
28.2%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, 2005–2021

204060801002005201320212005: 38.42010: 28.22014: 37.22016: 42.52018: 108.52019: 61.92020: 612021: 62.8

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 62.8% for adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 122.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 108.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 28.2%, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 3rd of 37 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 38.4%
2010 28.2% -26.5%
2014 37.2% +32.0%
2016 42.5% +14.1%
2018 108.5% +155.4%
2019 61.9% -42.9%
2020 61.0% -1.6%
2021 62.8% +3.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 62.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.1%, 2.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 38.4% 38.4% 38.4% 1
2010s 55.7% 28.2% 108.5% 5
2020s 61.9% 61.0% 62.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Poland 70.0% compare
  2. 2 Belarus 63.3% compare
  3. 4 Thailand 61.6% compare
  4. 5 Serbia 60.8% compare
  5. 6 Romania 57.7% 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 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 62.8% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 108.5% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 28.2% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 3rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 122.4%. 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 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-3rd-quintile-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 3rd 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