Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa

South Africa: Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile was 95.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
95.8%
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
3rd
of 39 countries
All-time high
95.8%
in 2021
All-time low
79.2%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060801002005201320212005: 79.2 % of population2010: 79.8 % of population2014: 93 % of population2016: 94.7 % of population2018: 95.8 % of population2019: 95.2 % of population2020: 93.8 % of population2021: 95.8 % of population

Source: ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of population.

Analysis

The most recent figure for coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa is 95.8%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 20.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa peaked at 95.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 79.2%, in 2005.

That places South Africa 3rd out of 39 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile (% of population) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year % of population Change
2005 79.2%
2010 79.8% +0.7%
2014 93.0% +16.6%
2016 94.7% +1.9%
2018 95.8% +1.1%
2019 95.2% -0.6%
2020 93.8% -1.5%
2021 95.8% +2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 79.2% 79.2% 79.2% 1
2010s 91.7% 79.8% 95.8% 5
2020s 94.8% 93.8% 95.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 99.2% compare
  2. 2 Mongolia 95.9% compare
  3. 4 Thailand 94.3% compare
  4. 5 El Salvador 92.2% compare
  5. 6 Peru 91.4% 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 of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa?
Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa was 95.8% in 2021, according to ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 95.8% in 2021.
What is the lowest coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 79.2% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile?
South Africa ranks 3rd out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, World Bank (WB), published as part of Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/coverage-of-social-safety-net-programs-in-2nd-quintile-percent-of-population/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Coverage of social safety net programs in 2nd quintile (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
39 places, 390 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Coverage of social safety net programs shows the percentage of population participating in cash transfers and last resort programs, noncontributory social pensions, other cash transfers programs (child, family and orphan allowances, birth and death grants, disability benefits, and other allowances), conditional cash transfers, in-kind food transfers (food stamps and vouchers, food rations, supplementary feeding, and emergency food distribution), school feeding, other social assistance programs (housing allowances, scholarships, fee waivers, health subsidies, and other social assistance) and public works programs (cash for work and food for work). Estimates include both direct and indirect beneficiaries.