Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and was 6.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
6.3%
Change on year
up 23.5%
World rank
37th
of 37 countries
All-time high
17.6%
in 2010
All-time low
5.1%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, 2005–2021

57.51012.51517.52005201320212005: 12.3 preT2010: 17.6 preT2014: 13.6 preT2016: 7.8 preT2018: 8.6 preT2019: 6.1 preT2020: 5.1 preT2021: 6.3 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa stood at 6.3%.

That represents a change of up 23.5% on the previous year and down 64.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 17.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2020.

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

Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 12.3%
2010 17.6% +42.8%
2014 13.6% -22.8%
2016 7.8% -42.7%
2018 8.6% +11.1%
2019 6.1% -29.8%
2020 5.1% -16.2%
2021 6.3% +23.5%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 6.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.9%, 39% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.3% 12.3% 12.3% 1
2010s 10.7% 6.1% 17.6% 5
2020s 5.7% 5.1% 6.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 34 Ecuador 9.4% compare
  2. 35 Colombia 8.5% compare
  3. 36 Malawi 7.9% 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 benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 6.3% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 17.6% in 2010.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 37th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -all social protection and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-3rd-quintile-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 3rd quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 372 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of benefits going to the third quintile relative to the total benefits going to the population