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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory was 39.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
39.7%
Change on year
down 42.1%
World rank
27th
of 34 countries
All-time high
342.7%
in 2018
All-time low
35.9%
in 2016
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

01002003002005201320212005: 46.92014: 108.82016: 35.92018: 342.72019: 62.62020: 68.62021: 39.7

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa stood at 39.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.1% on the previous year and down 63.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa peaked at 342.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 35.9%, in 2016.

That places South Africa 27th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 46.9%
2014 108.8% +132.1%
2016 35.9% -67.0%
2018 342.7% +855.9%
2019 62.6% -81.7%
2020 68.6% +9.6%
2021 39.7% -42.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 46.9% 46.9% 46.9% 1
2010s 137.5% 35.9% 342.7% 4
2020s 54.2% 39.7% 68.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 25 Pakistan 39.8% compare
  2. 26 Dominican Republic 39.7% compare
  3. 28 Argentina 37.4% compare
  4. 29 Panama 36.2% compare
  5. 30 Peru 34.9% compare

See the full ranking of 34 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) (%) - contributory in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa was 39.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 342.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 35.9% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory?
South Africa ranks 27th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 63.5%. 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 Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-contributory-pensions/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 345 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