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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social was 24.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
24.1%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
13th
of 39 countries
All-time high
28.8%
in 2005
All-time low
22.8%
in 2019
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

01020302005201320212005: 28.82010: 27.62014: 24.12016: 24.52018: 252019: 22.82020: 24.12021: 24.1

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social in South Africa stood at 24.1%.

That represents a change of down 12.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 28.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 22.8%, in 2019.

South Africa ranks 13th 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 Protection and Labor in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 28.8%
2010 27.6% -4.1%
2014 24.1% -12.8%
2016 24.5% +1.9%
2018 25.0% +2.0%
2019 22.8% -9.0%
2020 24.1% +5.9%
2021 24.1% +0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 24.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.9%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28.8% 28.8% 28.8% 1
2010s 24.8% 22.8% 27.6% 5
2020s 24.1% 24.1% 24.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 10 Uruguay 24.5% compare
  2. 11 Costa Rica 24.5% compare
  3. 12 Albania 24.3% compare
  4. 14 Republic of Moldova 23.6% compare
  5. 15 Serbia 23.5% compare
  6. 16 Pakistan 23.5% 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 24.1% 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 28.8% in 2005.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 22.8% in 2019.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 13th 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 12.6%. 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 Protection and Labor. 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 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor
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