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

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Unconditional was 3.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
3.4%
Change on year
down 17.0%
World rank
24th
of 30 countries
All-time high
5.0%
in 2019
All-time low
1.6%
in 2010
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

23452005201320212005: 2.3 preT2010: 1.6 preT2014: 3.1 preT2016: 3.1 preT2018: 4.1 preT2019: 5 preT2020: 4.1 preT2021: 3.4 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 3.4% for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.0% on the previous year and up 108.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional in South Africa peaked at 5.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2010.

That places South Africa 24th out of 30 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 2.3%
2010 1.6% -29.4%
2014 3.1% +88.1%
2016 3.1% +0.7%
2018 4.1% +33.9%
2019 5.0% +22.0%
2020 4.1% -18.8%
2021 3.4% -17.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 3.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 72% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.3% 2.3% 2.3% 1
2010s 3.4% 1.6% 5.0% 5
2020s 3.7% 3.4% 4.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 22 Chile 4.0% compare
  2. 23 Kyrgyzstan 3.4% compare
  3. 25 Albania 3.2% compare
  4. 26 Colombia 3.0% compare
  5. 27 Türkiye 1.9% compare

See the full ranking of 30 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional in South Africa was 3.4% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional?
South Africa ranks 24th out of 30 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - unconditional rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 108.7%. 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) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Unconditional in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-unconditional-cash-transfers-pret/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-unconditional-cash-transfers-pret/south-africa/">Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Unconditional in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Unconditional Cash Transfers (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
30 places, 256 data points, 2004–2022
Last refreshed

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