Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social was 84.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
84.5%
Change on year
down 7.4%
World rank
2nd
of 31 countries
All-time high
91.2%
in 2020
All-time low
34.2%
in 2018
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060801002005201320212005: 65.82014: 77.22016: 83.52018: 34.22019: 84.62020: 91.22021: 84.5

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa is 84.5%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa peaked at 91.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 34.2%, in 2018.

That places South Africa 2nd out of 31 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 65.8%
2014 77.2% +17.2%
2016 83.5% +8.2%
2018 34.2% -59.1%
2019 84.6% +147.2%
2020 91.2% +7.9%
2021 84.5% -7.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 84.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 47.5%, 1.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 65.8% 65.8% 65.8% 1
2010s 69.9% 34.2% 84.6% 4
2020s 87.8% 84.5% 91.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Colombia 93.9% compare
  2. 3 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 78.1% compare
  3. 4 Peru 76.0% compare
  4. 5 Thailand 75.6% compare

See the full ranking of 31 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social in South Africa was 84.5% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 91.2% in 2020.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 34.2% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social?
South Africa ranks 2nd out of 31 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance -rural. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-all-social-insurance-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Social Insurance -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
31 places, 292 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of benefits going to the richestquintile relative to the total benefits going to the population