Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social was 53.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
53.4%
Change on year
down 24.0%
World rank
4th
of 33 countries
All-time high
70.3%
in 2020
All-time low
18.0%
in 2018
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

204060802005201320212005: 34.42010: 462014: 52.52016: 40.42018: 182019: 49.12020: 70.32021: 53.4

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa is 53.4%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.0% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 70.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 2018.

South Africa ranks 4th of 33 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 34.4%
2010 46.0% +33.6%
2014 52.5% +14.3%
2016 40.4% -23.2%
2018 18.0% -55.5%
2019 49.1% +173.7%
2020 70.3% +43.1%
2021 53.4% -24.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 53.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.0%, 1.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 34.4% 34.4% 34.4% 1
2010s 41.2% 18.0% 52.5% 5
2020s 61.9% 53.4% 70.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Colombia 80.3% compare
  2. 2 Peru 60.6% compare
  3. 3 Dominican Republic 55.2% compare
  4. 5 Thailand 51.4% compare
  5. 6 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 48.9% compare
  6. 7 Côte d'Ivoire 48.7% compare

See the full ranking of 33 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa was 53.4% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 70.3% in 2020.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 33 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance -rural. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-all-social-insurance-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
33 places, 310 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of program beneficiaries in a quintile relative to the total number of beneficiaries in the population