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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - Social Pensions was 25.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
25.6%
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
2nd
of 25 countries
All-time high
29.1%
in 2019
All-time low
15.0%
in 2014
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

01020302005201320212005: 16.3 preT2010: 16.4 preT2014: 15 preT2016: 28.1 preT2018: 25.4 preT2019: 29.1 preT2020: 28.1 preT2021: 25.6 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 25.6% for beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.0% on the previous year and up 56.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa peaked at 29.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 2014.

South Africa ranks 2nd of 25 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - Social Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 16.3%
2010 16.4% +0.7%
2014 15.0% -8.4%
2016 28.1% +87.2%
2018 25.4% -9.8%
2019 29.1% +14.8%
2020 28.1% -3.4%
2021 25.6% -9.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.3% 16.3% 16.3% 1
2010s 22.8% 15.0% 29.1% 5
2020s 26.9% 25.6% 28.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Ecuador 29.9% compare
  2. 3 Colombia 22.2% compare
  3. 4 Thailand 21.8% compare
  4. 5 Paraguay 20.4% 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 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa was 25.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 29.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 2014.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions?
South Africa ranks 2nd out of 25 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - social pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 56.0%. 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 (%) - Social Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - Social Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-3rd-quintile-percent-social-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 3rd quintile (%) - 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