Population receiving Social Assistance and Other in South Africa

South Africa: Population receiving Social Assistance and Other was 1.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1.7%
Change on year
up 50.2%
World rank
29th
of 40 countries
All-time high
6.9%
in 2016
All-time low
1.1%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Population receiving Social Assistance and Other in South Africa, 2005–2021

2462005201320212005: 1.7 %2010: 1.5 %2014: 2.1 %2016: 6.9 %2018: 6 %2019: 5.3 %2020: 1.1 %2021: 1.7 %

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for population receiving social assistance and other in South Africa is 1.7%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 50.2% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population receiving social assistance and other in South Africa peaked at 6.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 29th out of 40 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Population receiving Social Assistance and Other in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population receiving Social Assistance and Other (%) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year % Change
2005 1.7%
2010 1.5% -13.3%
2014 2.1% +46.3%
2016 6.9% +225.2%
2018 6.0% -14.2%
2019 5.3% -11.2%
2020 1.1% -78.5%
2021 1.7% +50.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 1
2010s 4.4% 1.5% 6.9% 5
2020s 1.4% 1.1% 1.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 26 Dominican Republic 2.7% compare
  2. 27 Ecuador 2.4% compare
  3. 28 Albania 2.1% compare
  4. 30 Kosovo 1.4% compare
  5. 30 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 1.4% compare
  6. 32 Paraguay 1.3% 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 receiving social assistance and other in South Africa?
Population receiving social assistance and other in South Africa was 1.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest population receiving social assistance and other recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 2016.
What is the lowest population receiving social assistance and other recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for population receiving social assistance and other?
South Africa ranks 29th out of 40 countries with data for 2021.
Is population receiving social assistance and other rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Population receiving Social Assistance and Other (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population receiving Social Assistance and Other in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/population-receiving-social-assistance-and-other-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population receiving Social Assistance and Other (%)
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 receiving Social Assistance and Other program (includes direct and indirect beneficiaries)