Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and was 74.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
74.6%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
1st
of 37 countries
All-time high
79.3%
in 2019
All-time low
12.2%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, 2005–2021

204060802005201320212005: 21.5 preT2010: 12.2 preT2014: 22 preT2016: 68.2 preT2018: 50.1 preT2019: 79.3 preT2020: 73 preT2021: 74.6 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa stood at 74.6%.

The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 510.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 79.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2010.

That places South Africa 1st out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 21.5%
2010 12.2% -43.2%
2014 22.0% +80.0%
2016 68.2% +210.1%
2018 50.1% -26.6%
2019 79.3% +58.3%
2020 73.0% -7.9%
2021 74.6% +2.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 74.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 2.9× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 21.5% 21.5% 21.5% 1
2010s 46.4% 12.2% 79.3% 5
2020s 73.8% 73.0% 74.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Thailand 62.1% compare
  2. 3 Turkey 43.2% compare
  3. 4 Kazakhstan 42.4% 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 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 74.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 79.3% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 510.4%. 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 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 4th 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-4th-quintile-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 4th 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