Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social was 73.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
73.7%
Change on year
down 6.9%
World rank
21st
of 37 countries
All-time high
295.0%
in 2018
All-time low
53.8%
in 2016
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

501001502002503002005201320212005: 78.8 preT2010: 70.7 preT2014: 92.4 preT2016: 53.8 preT2018: 295 preT2019: 70.9 preT2020: 79.2 preT2021: 73.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa stood at 73.7%.

The figure is down 6.9% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 295.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 53.8%, in 2016.

South Africa ranks 21st of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 78.8%
2010 70.7% -10.3%
2014 92.4% +30.7%
2016 53.8% -41.8%
2018 295.0% +448.2%
2019 70.9% -76.0%
2020 79.2% +11.6%
2021 73.7% -6.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 73.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 84.5%, 87% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 78.8% 78.8% 78.8% 1
2010s 116.6% 53.8% 295.0% 5
2020s 76.5% 73.7% 79.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 19 Sri Lanka 80.2% compare
  2. 20 Brazil 78.4% compare
  3. 22 Uruguay 71.0% compare
  4. 23 Argentina 66.9% compare
  5. 24 Costa Rica 63.7% 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 extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa was 73.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 295.0% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 53.8% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 21st out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. 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 extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 371 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