Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory was 56.8% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
56.8%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
2nd
of 37 countries
All-time high
57.1%
in 2020
All-time low
24.0%
in 2018
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa, 2005–2021

02040602005201320212005: 48.22010: 52.62014: 51.42016: 39.22018: 242019: 472020: 57.12021: 56.8

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa stood at 56.8%.

That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa peaked at 57.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24.0%, in 2018.

That places South Africa 2nd out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 48.2%
2010 52.6% +9.1%
2014 51.4% -2.3%
2016 39.2% -23.6%
2018 24.0% -38.9%
2019 47.0% +95.9%
2020 57.1% +21.6%
2021 56.8% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 48.2% 48.2% 48.2% 1
2010s 42.8% 24.0% 52.6% 5
2020s 57.0% 56.8% 57.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Honduras 58.8% compare
  2. 3 Paraguay 56.3% compare
  3. 4 Colombia 53.9% compare
  4. 5 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 52.0% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa was 56.8% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 57.1% in 2020.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 24.0% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory?
South Africa ranks 2nd out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory Pensions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-contributory-pensions/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory Pensions
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 369 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of program beneficiaries in a quintile relative to the total number of beneficiaries in the population