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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) was 58.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
58.7%
Change on year
up 12.2%
World rank
8th
of 27 countries
All-time high
129.1%
in 2018
All-time low
48.8%
in 2016
Years of data
5
2016–2021

Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa, 2016–2021

0501001502016201820212016: 48.8 preT2018: 129.1 preT2019: 55.9 preT2020: 52.3 preT2021: 58.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 58.7% for adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in 2021.

That represents a change of up 12.2% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.

South Africa ranks 8th of 27 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - International Private Transfers (preT) in South Africa, 2016 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2016 48.8%
2018 129.1% +164.8%
2019 55.9% -56.7%
2020 52.3% -6.3%
2021 58.7% +12.2%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 58.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 41.5%, 1.4× the median. (17 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 77.9% 48.8% 129.1% 3
2020s 55.5% 52.3% 58.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 5 Viet Nam 72.4% compare
  2. 6 Serbia 72.3% compare
  3. 7 Pakistan 62.6%
  4. 9 Kosovo 56.5%
  5. 9 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 56.5%
  6. 11 Georgia 54.3% compare

See the full ranking of 27 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) (%) in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa was 58.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 129.1% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 48.8% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%)?
South Africa ranks 8th out of 27 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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) (%) - International Private Transfers (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-international-private-transfers/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-international-private-transfers/south-africa/">Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - International Private Transfers (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
27 places, 254 data points, 2003–2022
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