Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private was 58.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
58.1%
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
5th
of 36 countries
All-time high
130.2%
in 2018
All-time low
37.4%
in 2005
Years of data
6
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa, 2005–2021

4060801001201402005201320212005: 37.4 preT2016: 48.8 preT2018: 130.2 preT2019: 59.1 preT2020: 56.4 preT2021: 58.1 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa is 58.1%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa peaked at 130.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 5th of 36 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private Transfers (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 37.4%
2016 48.8% +30.4%
2018 130.2% +166.9%
2019 59.1% -54.6%
2020 56.4% -4.5%
2021 58.1% +2.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 58.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28.8%, 2.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 37.4% 37.4% 37.4% 1
2010s 79.4% 48.8% 130.2% 3
2020s 57.2% 56.4% 58.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Viet Nam 121.9% compare
  2. 3 Armenia 69.2% compare
  3. 4 Kyrgyzstan 58.5% compare
  4. 6 Republic of Moldova 55.8% compare
  5. 7 Kosovo 51.0% compare
  6. 7 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 51.0% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa was 58.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 130.2% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 36 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. 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 Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private Transfers (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-private-transfers-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private Transfers (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 351 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Total transfer amount received by all beneficiaries in a population group as a share of the total welfare of beneficiaries in that group