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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social was 15.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
15.7%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
27th
of 37 countries
All-time high
16.2%
in 2019
All-time low
13.1%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

0510152005201320212005: 13.12010: 13.52014: 16.22016: 14.92018: 14.92019: 16.22020: 15.72021: 15.7

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa stood at 15.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 16.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 27th of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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 Protection and Labor -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 13.1%
2010 13.5% +2.4%
2014 16.2% +20.2%
2016 14.9% -7.7%
2018 14.9% -0.0%
2019 16.2% +9.0%
2020 15.7% -3.1%
2021 15.7% -0.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 15.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.3%, 91% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.1% 13.1% 13.1% 1
2010s 15.1% 13.5% 16.2% 5
2020s 15.7% 15.7% 15.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 24 Romania 16.5% compare
  2. 25 Mexico 16.2% compare
  3. 26 Brazil 15.9% compare
  4. 28 Costa Rica 15.7% compare
  5. 29 Colombia 15.7% compare
  6. 30 Dominican Republic 15.5% compare

See the full ranking of 37 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 15.7% 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 16.2% in 2019.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 27th out of 37 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 16.9%. 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -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 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 365 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

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