Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban in South Africa

South Africa: Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban was 69.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
69.7%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
8th
of 39 countries
All-time high
77.7%
in 2019
All-time low
42.6%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060802005201320212005: 42.62010: 50.22014: 72.42016: 68.12018: 69.52019: 77.72020: 70.22021: 69.7

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban in South Africa is 69.7%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 38.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban in South Africa peaked at 77.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 42.6%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 8th of 39 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 42.6%
2010 50.2% +17.9%
2014 72.4% +44.2%
2016 68.1% -6.0%
2018 69.5% +2.1%
2019 77.7% +11.9%
2020 70.2% -9.6%
2021 69.7% -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 42.6% 42.6% 42.6% 1
2010s 67.6% 50.2% 77.7% 5
2020s 70.0% 69.7% 70.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 5 Thailand 80.2% compare
  2. 6 Chile 77.6% compare
  3. 7 Peru 75.5% compare
  4. 9 Russian Federation 63.9% compare
  5. 10 Georgia 62.0% compare
  6. 11 Romania 60.1% 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 (%) - all social assistance -urban in South Africa?
Coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban in South Africa was 69.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 77.7% in 2019.
What is the lowest coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 42.6% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban?
South Africa ranks 8th out of 39 countries with data for 2021.
Is coverage (%) - all social assistance -urban rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.8%. 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 (%) - All Social Assistance -urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/coverage-percent-all-social-assistance-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Coverage (%) - All Social Assistance -urban
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)