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 58.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
58.1%
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
4th
of 36 countries
All-time high
62.3%
in 2020
All-time low
32.1%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

02040602005201320212005: 44.32010: 32.12014: 49.12016: 43.42018: 57.22019: 51.72020: 62.32021: 58.1

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa is 58.1%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and up 81.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 62.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 32.1%, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 4th of 36 countries on this measure, 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 -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 44.3%
2010 32.1% -27.5%
2014 49.1% +53.1%
2016 43.4% -11.7%
2018 57.2% +31.9%
2019 51.7% -9.7%
2020 62.3% +20.6%
2021 58.1% -6.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 58.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.9%, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 44.3% 44.3% 44.3% 1
2010s 46.7% 32.1% 57.2% 5
2020s 60.2% 58.1% 62.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Belarus 69.4% compare
  2. 2 Brazil 59.0% compare
  3. 3 Romania 58.4% compare
  4. 5 Thailand 57.9% compare
  5. 6 Poland 56.8% compare
  6. 7 Moldova 47.9% 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 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 58.1% 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 62.3% in 2020.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 32.1% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 36 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 81.2%. 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 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -rural. 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-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 352 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