Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and was 27.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
27.2%
Change on year
up 22.6%
World rank
1st
of 37 countries
All-time high
27.2%
in 2021
All-time low
11.4%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, 2005–2021

01020302005201320212005: 11.4 preT2010: 12.5 preT2014: 13.6 preT2016: 23.7 preT2018: 19.4 preT2019: 24.3 preT2020: 22.2 preT2021: 27.2 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa stood at 27.2%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is up 22.6% on the previous year and up 117.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 27.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 1st of 37 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 11.4%
2010 12.5% +9.7%
2014 13.6% +8.9%
2016 23.7% +74.3%
2018 19.4% -18.2%
2019 24.3% +25.2%
2020 22.2% -8.6%
2021 27.2% +22.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 27.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.0%, 1.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.4% 11.4% 11.4% 1
2010s 18.7% 12.5% 24.3% 5
2020s 24.7% 22.2% 27.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Honduras 23.1% compare
  2. 3 Argentina 22.9% compare
  3. 4 Uruguay 22.1% 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 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 27.2% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2021.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -all social protection and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 117.9%. 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 Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-4th-quintile-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 4th 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 fourth quintile relative to the total benefits going to the population