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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Social Pensions was 12.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
12.4%
Change on year
up 93.1%
World rank
24th
of 25 countries
All-time high
45.5%
in 2005
All-time low
6.4%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

10203040502005201320212005: 45.5 preT2010: 41.6 preT2014: 43.2 preT2016: 13.7 preT2018: 15.4 preT2019: 9 preT2020: 6.4 preT2021: 12.4 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa stood at 12.4%.

That represents a change of up 93.1% on the previous year and down 70.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa peaked at 45.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 24th out of 25 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Social Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 45.5%
2010 41.6% -8.7%
2014 43.2% +4.0%
2016 13.7% -68.4%
2018 15.4% +12.8%
2019 9.0% -41.7%
2020 6.4% -28.8%
2021 12.4% +93.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 12.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 39.5%, 31% of the median. (16 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 45.5% 45.5% 45.5% 1
2010s 24.6% 9.0% 43.2% 5
2020s 9.4% 6.4% 12.4% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 21 Thailand 26.6% compare
  2. 22 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 25.8% compare
  3. 23 Ecuador 19.9% compare
  4. 25 Honduras 5.5% compare

See the full ranking of 25 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa was 12.4% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 45.5% in 2005.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions?
South Africa ranks 24th out of 25 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - social pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 70.2%. 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 Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Social Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Social Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-social-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Social Pensions (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
25 places, 222 data points, 2004–2023
Last refreshed

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