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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social was 51.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
51.0%
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
4th
of 36 countries
All-time high
57.3%
in 2019
All-time low
15.7%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

20304050602005201320212005: 25.92010: 15.72014: 25.82016: 51.72018: 33.92019: 57.32020: 49.22021: 51

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa is 51.0%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 224.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 57.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.7%, in 2010.

That places South Africa 4th out of 36 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 Protection and Labor -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 25.9%
2010 15.7% -39.3%
2014 25.8% +64.3%
2016 51.7% +99.9%
2018 33.9% -34.4%
2019 57.3% +69.2%
2020 49.2% -14.2%
2021 51.0% +3.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 51.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 25.9% 25.9% 25.9% 1
2010s 36.9% 15.7% 57.3% 5
2020s 50.1% 49.2% 51.0% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Thailand 95.2% compare
  2. 2 Romania 52.0% compare
  3. 3 Belarus 51.8% compare
  4. 5 Kazakhstan 46.5% compare
  5. 6 Poland 45.7% compare
  6. 7 Brazil 41.5% 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa was 51.0% 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 57.3% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 15.7% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 36 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 224.2%. 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -rural. 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-protection-and-labor-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -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