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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions was 69.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
69.4%
Change on year
up 23.7%
World rank
5th
of 31 countries
All-time high
124.7%
in 2018
All-time low
34.0%
in 2016
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

4060801001202005201320212005: 512014: 111.72016: 342018: 124.72019: 48.92020: 56.12021: 69.4

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa is 69.4%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 23.7% on the previous year and down 37.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa peaked at 124.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2016.

That places South Africa 5th out of 31 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

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 -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 51.0%
2014 111.7% +119.1%
2016 34.0% -69.6%
2018 124.7% +266.7%
2019 48.9% -60.8%
2020 56.1% +14.8%
2021 69.4% +23.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 51.0% 51.0% 51.0% 1
2010s 79.8% 34.0% 124.7% 4
2020s 62.8% 56.1% 69.4% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Romania 93.0% compare
  2. 3 Belarus 91.8% compare
  3. 4 Poland 78.8% compare
  4. 6 Uruguay 64.8% compare
  5. 7 Colombia 63.4% compare
  6. 8 Brazil 62.9% compare

See the full ranking of 31 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 69.4% 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 124.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - contributory pensions?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 31 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 down 37.9%. 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 -rural. 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-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 3rd quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
31 places, 292 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