Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions was 70.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
70.9%
Change on year
down 8.5%
World rank
4th
of 34 countries
All-time high
77.6%
in 2020
All-time low
52.4%
in 2005
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060802005201320212005: 52.4 preT2014: 67.4 preT2016: 61.4 preT2018: 60.2 preT2019: 71.2 preT2020: 77.6 preT2021: 70.9 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa is 70.9%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of down 8.5% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa peaked at 77.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 52.4%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 4th of 34 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 52.4%
2014 67.4% +28.8%
2016 61.4% -8.9%
2018 60.2% -2.0%
2019 71.2% +18.4%
2020 77.6% +8.9%
2021 70.9% -8.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 52.4% 52.4% 52.4% 1
2010s 65.0% 60.2% 71.2% 4
2020s 74.2% 70.9% 77.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Thailand 82.7% compare
  2. 2 Romania 78.0% compare
  3. 3 Poland 77.9% compare
  4. 5 Belarus 59.3% compare
  5. 6 Türkiye 54.5% compare
  6. 7 Kazakhstan 54.5% 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 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa was 70.9% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 77.6% in 2020.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 52.4% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. 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 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-3rd-quintile-percent-contributory-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 3rd 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