Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance was 16.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
16.1%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
22nd
of 39 countries
All-time high
17.8%
in 2019
All-time low
10.6%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa, 2005–2021

051015202005201320212005: 10.62010: 13.32014: 17.22016: 16.12018: 16.52019: 17.82020: 16.32021: 16.1

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa is 16.1%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 21.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa peaked at 17.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 10.6%, in 2005.

That places South Africa 22nd out of 39 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 10.6%
2010 13.3% +26.2%
2014 17.2% +29.3%
2016 16.1% -6.4%
2018 16.5% +2.5%
2019 17.8% +7.9%
2020 16.3% -8.5%
2021 16.1% -1.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 16.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.2%, 100% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.6% 10.6% 10.6% 1
2010s 16.2% 13.3% 17.8% 5
2020s 16.2% 16.1% 16.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 19 Poland 16.4% compare
  2. 20 Republic of Moldova 16.3% compare
  3. 21 Kazakhstan 16.2% compare
  4. 23 Armenia 16.1% compare
  5. 24 Honduras 15.1% compare
  6. 25 Paraguay 14.8% 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 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa was 16.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 17.8% in 2019.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 10.6% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance?
South Africa ranks 22nd out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.2%. 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 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance -urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-4th-quintile-percent-all-social-assistance-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance -urban
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