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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Social Pensions was 8.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
8.1%
Change on year
down 7.8%
World rank
10th
of 25 countries
All-time high
8.8%
in 2020
All-time low
4.2%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

024682005201320212005: 4.2 preT2010: 6.7 preT2014: 7.7 preT2016: 6 preT2018: 6.1 preT2019: 7.2 preT2020: 8.8 preT2021: 8.1 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa stood at 8.1%.

The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa peaked at 8.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 10th of 25 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Social Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 4.2%
2010 6.7% +57.2%
2014 7.7% +15.8%
2016 6.0% -21.7%
2018 6.1% +1.4%
2019 7.2% +18.3%
2020 8.8% +21.3%
2021 8.1% -7.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 8.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.9%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 4.2% 4.2% 4.2% 1
2010s 6.7% 6.0% 7.7% 5
2020s 8.4% 8.1% 8.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 7 Thailand 10.8% compare
  2. 8 Kazakhstan 10.2% compare
  3. 9 Indonesia 10.0%
  4. 11 Republic of Moldova 7.6% compare
  5. 12 Sri Lanka 7.0% compare
  6. 13 Chile 6.3% 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions in South Africa was 8.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2020.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions?
South Africa ranks 10th out of 25 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - social pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. 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) (%) - Social Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Social Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-social-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - 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