Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile in South Africa

South Africa: Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile was 0.0521 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
0.0521
Change on year
up 17.6%
World rank
34th
of 36 countries
All-time high
0.3674
in 2010
All-time low
0.0443
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile in South Africa, 2005–2021

00.10.20.30.42005201320212005: 0.2272010: 0.3672014: 0.2272016: 0.0532018: 0.0992019: 0.0532020: 0.0442021: 0.052

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile in South Africa is 0.0521, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.6% on the previous year and down 85.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile in South Africa peaked at 0.3674 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0443, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 34th of 36 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile (poorest) -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 0.2274
2010 0.3674 +61.6%
2014 0.2274 -38.1%
2016 0.0531 -76.7%
2018 0.0994 +87.3%
2019 0.0527 -47.0%
2020 0.0443 -15.9%
2021 0.0521 +17.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 0.0521 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.205, 25% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.2274 0.2274 0.2274 1
2010s 0.16 0.0527 0.3674 5
2020s 0.0482 0.0443 0.0521 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 Costa Rica 0.1092 compare
  2. 32 Paraguay 0.0957 compare
  3. 33 Ecuador 0.0937 compare
  4. 35 Honduras 0.0441 compare
  5. 36 Colombia 0.0326 compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile in South Africa?
Benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile in South Africa was 0.0521 in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.3674 in 2010.
What is the lowest benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0443 in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile?
South Africa ranks 34th out of 36 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefit-cost ratio - all social protection and labor - 1st quintile rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 85.8%. 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 Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile (poorest) -urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/benefit-cost-ratio-all-social-protection-and-labor-1st-quintile-poorest-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefit-cost ratio - All Social Protection and Labor - 1st quintile (poorest) -urban
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 367 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

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