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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance was 18.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
18.4%
Change on year
down 4.1%
World rank
15th
of 39 countries
All-time high
19.2%
in 2020
All-time low
14.9%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

051015202005201320212005: 14.92010: 15.62014: 18.42016: 18.32018: 17.62019: 19.22020: 19.22021: 18.4

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa stood at 18.4%.

The figure is down 4.1% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa peaked at 19.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14.9%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 15th of 39 countries on this measure, 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 in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 14.9%
2010 15.6% +4.5%
2014 18.4% +18.1%
2016 18.3% -0.4%
2018 17.6% -3.9%
2019 19.2% +8.8%
2020 19.2% +0.1%
2021 18.4% -4.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.9% 14.9% 14.9% 1
2010s 17.8% 15.6% 19.2% 5
2020s 18.8% 18.4% 19.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 12 Peru 18.8% compare
  2. 13 Belarus 18.6% compare
  3. 14 Russian Federation 18.5% compare
  4. 16 Mexico 18.1% compare
  5. 17 Indonesia 17.9% compare
  6. 18 Romania 17.5% 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 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance in South Africa was 18.4% 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 19.2% in 2020.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 14.9% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - all social assistance?
South Africa ranks 15th 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 18.0%. 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 4th quintile (%) - All Social Assistance. 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 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-4th-quintile-percent-all-social-assistance/south-africa/

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About this data

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