Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social was 5.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
5.7%
Change on year
up 65.8%
World rank
10th
of 37 countries
All-time high
39.9%
in 2018
All-time low
3.5%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

0102030402005201320212005: 23.6 preT2010: 6.4 preT2014: 24.5 preT2016: 13.9 preT2018: 39.9 preT2019: 8.6 preT2020: 3.5 preT2021: 5.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social in South Africa is 5.7%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 65.8% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 39.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 10th of 37 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 23.6%
2010 6.4% -72.8%
2014 24.5% +281.4%
2016 13.9% -43.3%
2018 39.9% +187.4%
2019 8.6% -78.4%
2020 3.5% -59.7%
2021 5.7% +65.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 5.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.9%, 2.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23.6% 23.6% 23.6% 1
2010s 18.7% 6.4% 39.9% 5
2020s 4.6% 3.5% 5.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 7 Serbia 7.0% compare
  2. 8 Pakistan 7.0% compare
  3. 9 Mongolia 6.1% compare
  4. 11 Belarus 5.3% compare
  5. 12 Chile 5.1% compare
  6. 13 Côte d'Ivoire 4.7% 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 extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social in South Africa was 5.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2018.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 10th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-all-social-insurance-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) - All Social Insurance (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 368 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

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