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

South Africa: Adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions was 60.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
60.9%
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
6th
of 34 countries
All-time high
70.1%
in 2019
All-time low
46.3%
in 2005
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

0204060802005201320212005: 46.32014: 56.32016: 54.72018: 62.32019: 70.12020: 58.52021: 60.9

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 60.9% for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa peaked at 70.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 46.3%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 6th of 34 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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 in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 46.3%
2014 56.3% +21.5%
2016 54.7% -3.0%
2018 62.3% +14.0%
2019 70.1% +12.5%
2020 58.5% -16.6%
2021 60.9% +4.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 46.3% 46.3% 46.3% 1
2010s 60.9% 54.7% 70.1% 4
2020s 59.7% 58.5% 60.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 3 Romania 84.1% compare
  2. 4 Belarus 64.0% compare
  3. 5 Kazakhstan 61.1% compare
  4. 7 Turkey 55.4% compare
  5. 8 Mongolia 53.5% compare
  6. 9 Serbia 52.7% 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 60.9% 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 70.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 46.3% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for adequacy of benefits in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions?
South Africa ranks 6th 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 8.2%. 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 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions. 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 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adequacy-of-benefits-in-4th-quintile-percent-contributory-pensions/south-africa/

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About this data

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