Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural in South Africa

South Africa: Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural was 88.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
88.6%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
4th
of 38 countries
All-time high
89.9%
in 2020
All-time low
74.9%
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060802005201320212005: 74.92010: 76.52014: 87.82016: 79.92018: 82.32019: 85.42020: 89.92021: 88.6

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural in South Africa stood at 88.6%.

The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural in South Africa peaked at 89.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 74.9%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 4th of 38 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 74.9%
2010 76.5% +2.2%
2014 87.8% +14.7%
2016 79.9% -9.0%
2018 82.3% +3.0%
2019 85.4% +3.7%
2020 89.9% +5.4%
2021 88.6% -1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 74.9% 74.9% 74.9% 1
2010s 82.4% 76.5% 87.8% 5
2020s 89.3% 88.6% 89.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 95.8% compare
  2. 2 Peru 90.9% compare
  3. 3 Thailand 89.3% compare
  4. 5 El Salvador 84.7% compare
  5. 6 Viet Nam 77.9% compare
  6. 7 Georgia 71.9% compare

See the full ranking of 38 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural in South Africa?
Population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural in South Africa was 88.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 89.9% in 2020.
What is the lowest population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 74.9% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 38 countries with data for 2021.
Is population only receiving all social assistance (%) -rural rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. 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 Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/population-only-receiving-all-social-assistance-percent-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population only receiving All Social Assistance (%) -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
38 places, 370 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of population only receiving All Social Assistance programs (includes direct and indirect beneficiaries)