Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social was 42.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
42.6%
Change on year
down 20.6%
World rank
4th
of 34 countries
All-time high
69.5%
in 2019
All-time low
24.8%
in 2018
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

02040602005201320212005: 31.2 preT2014: 33.8 preT2016: 55.7 preT2018: 24.8 preT2019: 69.5 preT2020: 53.6 preT2021: 42.6 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa is 42.6%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 20.6% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 69.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 24.8%, in 2018.

That places South Africa 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 31.2%
2014 33.8% +8.5%
2016 55.7% +64.6%
2018 24.8% -55.4%
2019 69.5% +179.9%
2020 53.6% -22.8%
2021 42.6% -20.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 42.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.8%, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 31.2% 31.2% 31.2% 1
2010s 46.0% 24.8% 69.5% 4
2020s 48.1% 42.6% 53.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Thailand 48.8% compare
  2. 2 Uruguay 48.5% compare
  3. 3 Poland 43.8% compare
  4. 5 Romania 41.8% compare
  5. 6 Kazakhstan 40.8% compare
  6. 7 Costa Rica 39.1% compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa was 42.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 69.5% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 24.8% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-all-social-insurance-pret/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-all-social-insurance-pret/south-africa/">Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 347 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