Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance was 23.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
23.1%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
1st
of 39 countries
All-time high
23.4%
in 2020
All-time low
20.7%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa, 2005–2021

05101520252005201320212005: 20.8 preT2010: 20.7 preT2014: 21.7 preT2016: 23.1 preT2018: 22.2 preT2019: 22.3 preT2020: 23.4 preT2021: 23.1 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa is 23.1%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa peaked at 23.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20.7%, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 1st of 39 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 20.8%
2010 20.7% -0.7%
2014 21.7% +4.9%
2016 23.1% +6.5%
2018 22.2% -3.8%
2019 22.3% +0.5%
2020 23.4% +4.9%
2021 23.1% -1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.8% 20.8% 20.8% 1
2010s 22.0% 20.7% 23.1% 5
2020s 23.3% 23.1% 23.4% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Chile 22.1% compare
  2. 3 Romania 21.6% compare
  3. 4 Poland 21.4% 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 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa was 23.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 2020.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 20.7% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - all social assistance rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. 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 Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-3rd-quintile-percent-all-social-assistance-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - 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