Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions was 75.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
75.1%
Change on year
up 15.9%
World rank
5th
of 34 countries
All-time high
91.4%
in 2014
All-time low
49.3%
in 2016
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060801002005201320212005: 76.3 preT2014: 91.4 preT2016: 49.3 preT2018: 74.7 preT2019: 66.5 preT2020: 64.9 preT2021: 75.1 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa is 75.1%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa peaked at 91.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 49.3%, in 2016.

That places South Africa 5th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 76.3%
2014 91.4% +19.8%
2016 49.3% -46.1%
2018 74.7% +51.5%
2019 66.5% -10.9%
2020 64.9% -2.5%
2021 75.1% +15.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 76.3% 76.3% 76.3% 1
2010s 70.5% 49.3% 91.4% 4
2020s 70.0% 64.9% 75.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Poland 96.4% compare
  2. 3 Romania 95.5% compare
  3. 4 Belarus 79.0% compare
  4. 6 Serbia 70.3% compare
  5. 7 Türkiye 67.6% compare
  6. 8 Colombia 63.9% 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 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa was 75.1% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 91.4% in 2014.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 49.3% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - contributory pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. 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 Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-2nd-quintile-percent-contributory-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 2nd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 347 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