Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social was 24.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
24.6%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
28th
of 39 countries
All-time high
34.3%
in 2005
All-time low
23.1%
in 2019
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

01020302005201320212005: 34.3 preT2010: 31.6 preT2014: 25.3 preT2016: 25.1 preT2018: 25.3 preT2019: 23.1 preT2020: 24.4 preT2021: 24.6 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 24.6% for beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in 2021.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 34.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 2019.

South Africa ranks 28th of 39 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 34.3%
2010 31.6% -7.9%
2014 25.3% -19.8%
2016 25.1% -0.9%
2018 25.3% +0.8%
2019 23.1% -8.8%
2020 24.4% +5.8%
2021 24.6% +0.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 24.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.7%, 80% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 34.3% 34.3% 34.3% 1
2010s 26.1% 23.1% 31.6% 5
2020s 24.5% 24.4% 24.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 25 Indonesia 27.4% compare
  2. 26 Dominican Republic 26.2% compare
  3. 27 Russian Federation 25.6% compare
  4. 29 Chile 24.5% compare
  5. 30 Poland 24.2% compare
  6. 31 Peru 24.0% compare

See the full ranking of 39 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social in South Africa was 24.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 34.3% in 2005.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 2019.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 28th out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. 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 Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-assistance-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
39 places, 390 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of program beneficiaries in a quintile relative to the total number of beneficiaries in the population