Population not receiving Social Protection in South Africa

South Africa: Population not receiving Social Protection was 21.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
21.6%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
31st
of 40 countries
All-time high
41.5%
in 2005
All-time low
15.8%
in 2019
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Population not receiving Social Protection in South Africa, 2005–2021

0102030402005201320212005: 41.5 %2010: 37.2 %2014: 20.1 %2016: 21.9 %2018: 21.9 %2019: 15.8 %2020: 21.3 %2021: 21.6 %

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, population not receiving social protection in South Africa stood at 21.6%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 42.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population not receiving social protection in South Africa peaked at 41.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 15.8%, in 2019.

That places South Africa 31st out of 40 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Population not receiving Social Protection in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population not receiving Social Protection (%) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year % Change
2005 41.5%
2010 37.2% -10.2%
2014 20.1% -45.9%
2016 21.9% +8.6%
2018 21.9% +0.4%
2019 15.8% -28.0%
2020 21.3% +35.2%
2021 21.6% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 41.5% 41.5% 41.5% 1
2010s 23.4% 15.8% 37.2% 5
2020s 21.5% 21.3% 21.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 28 Armenia 24.7% compare
  2. 29 Panama 23.2% compare
  3. 30 Russian Federation 22.5% compare
  4. 32 Poland 20.8% compare
  5. 33 Romania 20.2% compare
  6. 34 Peru 16.6% compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population not receiving social protection in South Africa?
Population not receiving social protection in South Africa was 21.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest population not receiving social protection recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 41.5% in 2005.
What is the lowest population not receiving social protection recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 15.8% in 2019.
How does South Africa rank for population not receiving social protection?
South Africa ranks 31st out of 40 countries with data for 2021.
Is population not receiving social protection rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Population not receiving Social Protection (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population not receiving Social Protection in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/population-not-receiving-social-protection-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population not receiving Social Protection (%)
Unit
%
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
40 places, 395 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of population not receiving Social Protection programs