Adequacy of benefits (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban was 50.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
50.2%
Change on year
down 15.3%
World rank
6th
of 36 countries
All-time high
73.8%
in 2019
All-time low
17.9%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban in South Africa, 2005–2021

204060802005201320212005: 322010: 17.92014: 28.22016: 60.12018: 53.12019: 73.82020: 59.32021: 50.2

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban in South Africa is 50.2%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of down 15.3% on the previous year and up 180.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban in South Africa peaked at 73.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 6th of 36 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Adequacy of benefits (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 32.0%
2010 17.9% -44.1%
2014 28.2% +57.7%
2016 60.1% +113.1%
2018 53.1% -11.6%
2019 73.8% +39.0%
2020 59.3% -19.7%
2021 50.2% -15.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 50.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.5%, 1.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.0% 32.0% 32.0% 1
2010s 46.6% 17.9% 73.8% 5
2020s 54.7% 50.2% 59.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 3 Serbia 62.9% compare
  2. 4 Romania 55.8% compare
  3. 5 Republic of Moldova 52.6% compare
  4. 7 Belarus 50.0% compare
  5. 8 Kazakhstan 49.9% compare
  6. 9 Kyrgyzstan 46.8% 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 (%) -all social protection and labor -urban in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban in South Africa was 50.2% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 73.8% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban?
South Africa ranks 6th out of 36 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits (%) -all social protection and labor -urban rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 180.5%. 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 (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -urban in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits (%) -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