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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Social Pensions was 19.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
19.7%
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
1st
of 25 countries
All-time high
20.9%
in 2020
All-time low
9.4%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

051015202005201320212005: 9.4 preT2010: 11.9 preT2014: 11 preT2016: 18.3 preT2018: 12.8 preT2019: 18.6 preT2020: 20.9 preT2021: 19.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa stood at 19.7%.

That represents a change of down 5.7% on the previous year and up 64.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa peaked at 20.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2005.

That places South Africa 1st out of 25 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Social Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 9.4%
2010 11.9% +26.3%
2014 11.0% -7.8%
2016 18.3% +66.3%
2018 12.8% -29.9%
2019 18.6% +44.8%
2020 20.9% +12.4%
2021 19.7% -5.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 9.4% 9.4% 9.4% 1
2010s 14.5% 11.0% 18.6% 5
2020s 20.3% 19.7% 20.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 18.5% compare
  2. 3 Mexico 17.8% compare
  3. 4 Thailand 17.0% 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 4th quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions in South Africa was 19.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 2020.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 25 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - social pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 64.9%. 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 (%) - Social Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Social Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-4th-quintile-percent-social-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 4th 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