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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social was 46.9% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
46.9%
Change on year
down 17.6%
World rank
5th
of 36 countries
All-time high
73.4%
in 2019
All-time low
5.0%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

0204060802005201320212005: 29.12010: 52014: 24.22016: 61.22018: 33.12019: 73.42020: 56.92021: 46.9

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 46.9% for adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in 2021.

That represents a change of down 17.6% on the previous year and up 841.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 73.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2010.

That places South Africa 5th out of 36 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

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 -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 29.1%
2010 5.0% -82.9%
2014 24.2% +385.9%
2016 61.2% +152.9%
2018 33.1% -45.9%
2019 73.4% +121.6%
2020 56.9% -22.5%
2021 46.9% -17.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 46.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.7%, 1.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 29.1% 29.1% 29.1% 1
2010s 39.4% 5.0% 73.4% 5
2020s 51.9% 46.9% 56.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Serbia 51.0% compare
  2. 3 Poland 49.8% compare
  3. 4 Moldova 47.0% compare
  4. 6 Kazakhstan 46.5% compare
  5. 7 Romania 45.2% compare
  6. 8 Kyrgyzstan 43.4% 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 46.9% 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 73.4% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 5th 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 841.6%. 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban. 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-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 367 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