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

South Africa: Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social was 0.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
0.7%
Change on year
up 76.8%
World rank
35th
of 37 countries
All-time high
52.1%
in 2005
All-time low
0.4%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

02040602005201320212005: 52.1 preT2010: 50.6 preT2014: 47.1 preT2016: 1.1 preT2018: 38.8 preT2019: 0.788 preT2020: 0.4 preT2021: 0.708 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa is 0.7%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 76.8% on the previous year and down 98.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa peaked at 52.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 35th of 37 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 52.1%
2010 50.6% -2.9%
2014 47.1% -6.8%
2016 1.1% -97.6%
2018 38.8% +3358.4%
2019 0.8% -98.0%
2020 0.4% -49.2%
2021 0.7% +76.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 0.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.1%, 10% of the median. (24 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 52.1% 52.1% 52.1% 1
2010s 27.7% 0.8% 50.6% 5
2020s 0.6% 0.4% 0.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 32 Costa Rica 1.7% compare
  2. 33 Dominican Republic 1.2% compare
  3. 34 Argentina 1.1% compare
  4. 36 Uruguay 0.4% compare
  5. 37 Colombia 0.2% 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 extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social in South Africa was 0.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 52.1% in 2005.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social?
South Africa ranks 35th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -all social rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 98.6%. 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 Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-pret/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-extreme-poor-2-15-a-day-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor-pret/south-africa/">Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in extreme poor (<$2.15 a day) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 371 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of benefits going to the extreme poor (those below $125 a day) relative to the total benefits going to the population