Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions was 74.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
74.6%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
2nd
of 34 countries
All-time high
79.3%
in 2019
All-time low
50.1%
in 2018
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, 2005–2021

0204060802005201320212005: 59 preT2014: 69.8 preT2016: 68.2 preT2018: 50.1 preT2019: 79.3 preT2020: 73 preT2021: 74.6 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 74.6% for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in 2021.

The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 6.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa peaked at 79.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 50.1%, in 2018.

South Africa ranks 2nd of 34 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 59.0%
2014 69.8% +18.2%
2016 68.2% -2.3%
2018 50.1% -26.6%
2019 79.3% +58.3%
2020 73.0% -7.9%
2021 74.6% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 59.0% 59.0% 59.0% 1
2010s 66.8% 50.1% 79.3% 4
2020s 73.8% 73.0% 74.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Thailand 78.4% compare
  2. 3 Poland 62.9% compare
  3. 4 Romania 55.8% compare
  4. 5 Uruguay 51.3% 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 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa?
Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa was 74.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 79.3% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 50.1% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions?
South Africa ranks 2nd out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.9%. 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 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-4th-quintile-percent-contributory-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adequacy of benefits in 4th 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