Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa

South Africa: Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile was 88.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
88.8%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
6th
of 39 countries
All-time high
91.5%
in 2019
All-time low
64.5%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060801002005201320212005: 64.5 % of population2010: 68.2 % of population2014: 86.8 % of population2016: 88.1 % of population2018: 85 % of population2019: 91.5 % of population2020: 90.8 % of population2021: 88.8 % of population

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

Analysis

In 2021, coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa stood at 88.8%.

The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa peaked at 91.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 64.5%, in 2005.

That places South Africa 6th out of 39 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile (% of population) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year % of population Change
2005 64.5%
2010 68.2% +5.7%
2014 86.8% +27.2%
2016 88.1% +1.5%
2018 85.0% -3.6%
2019 91.5% +7.6%
2020 90.8% -0.7%
2021 88.8% -2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 64.5% 64.5% 64.5% 1
2010s 83.9% 68.2% 91.5% 5
2020s 89.8% 88.8% 90.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 3 Mongolia 89.8% compare
  2. 4 El Salvador 89.3% compare
  3. 5 Viet Nam 89.0% compare
  4. 7 Peru 85.5% compare
  5. 8 Chile 85.3% compare
  6. 9 Panama 69.8% 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 3rd quintile in South Africa?
Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa was 88.8% 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 3rd quintile recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 91.5% in 2019.
What is the lowest coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 64.5% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile?
South Africa ranks 6th out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. 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 3rd quintile (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd quintile in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE: The Atlas of Social Protection - Indicators of Resilience and Equity, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/coverage-of-social-safety-net-programs-in-3rd-quintile-percent-of-population/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Coverage of social safety net programs in 3rd 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.