Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa

South Africa: Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance was 94.5% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
94.5%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
7th
of 39 countries
All-time high
99.6%
in 2014
All-time low
94.5%
in 2021
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060801002005201320212005: 97.1 preT2010: 96.1 preT2014: 99.6 preT2016: 95.2 preT2018: 97.2 preT2019: 95.4 preT2020: 94.8 preT2021: 94.5 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 94.5% for coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance in South Africa peaked at 99.6% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 94.5%, in 2021.

That places South Africa 7th out of 39 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 97.1%
2010 96.1% -1.0%
2014 99.6% +3.6%
2016 95.2% -4.5%
2018 97.2% +2.1%
2019 95.4% -1.8%
2020 94.8% -0.6%
2021 94.5% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 97.1% 97.1% 97.1% 1
2010s 96.7% 95.2% 99.6% 5
2020s 94.7% 94.5% 94.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 4 Mongolia 96.5% compare
  2. 5 Chile 95.9% compare
  3. 6 Peru 95.6% compare
  4. 8 Viet Nam 92.7% compare
  5. 9 El Salvador 92.2% compare
  6. 10 Panama 90.2% compare

See the full ranking of 39 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance in South Africa?
Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance in South Africa was 94.5% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 99.6% in 2014.
What is the lowest coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 94.5% in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance?
South Africa ranks 7th out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all social assistance rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/coverage-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-assistance-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Social Assistance (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
39 places, 390 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of population participating in Social Assistance programs (includes direct and indirect beneficiaries)