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

South Africa: Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and was 94.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
94.6%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
6th
of 39 countries
All-time high
97.7%
in 2018
All-time low
84.3%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

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

0204060801002005201320212005: 84.32010: 86.62014: 96.22016: 95.92018: 97.72019: 95.92020: 94.92021: 94.6

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 94.6% for coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and in South Africa peaked at 97.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 84.3%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 6th of 39 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 84.3%
2010 86.6% +2.8%
2014 96.2% +11.0%
2016 95.9% -0.3%
2018 97.7% +1.9%
2019 95.9% -1.8%
2020 94.9% -1.1%
2021 94.6% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 84.3% 84.3% 84.3% 1
2010s 94.4% 86.6% 97.7% 5
2020s 94.8% 94.6% 94.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 3 Thailand 97.1% compare
  2. 4 Chile 95.6% compare
  3. 5 Peru 95.5% compare
  4. 7 El Salvador 91.4% compare
  5. 8 Romania 90.9% compare
  6. 9 Poland 89.7% 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 protection and in South Africa?
Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and in South Africa was 94.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 97.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 84.3% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and?
South Africa ranks 6th out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -all social protection and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. 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 Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/coverage-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-social-protection-and-labor/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) -All Social Protection and Labor
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 Protection and Labor programs (includes direct and indirect beneficiaries)