Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private was 8.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
8.7%
Change on year
up 77.3%
World rank
23rd
of 36 countries
All-time high
39.5%
in 2018
All-time low
4.9%
in 2020
Years of data
6
2005–2021

Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa, 2005–2021

0102030402005201320212005: 7.42016: 5.52018: 39.52019: 5.32020: 4.92021: 8.7

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa stood at 8.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 77.3% on the previous year and up 58.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa peaked at 39.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 23rd of 36 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private Transfers in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 7.4%
2016 5.5% -25.7%
2018 39.5% +616.4%
2019 5.3% -86.6%
2020 4.9% -6.8%
2021 8.7% +77.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.4% 7.4% 7.4% 1
2010s 16.8% 5.3% 39.5% 3
2020s 6.8% 4.9% 8.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 20 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 8.9% compare
  2. 21 El Salvador 8.8% compare
  3. 22 Peru 8.7% compare
  4. 24 Kosovo 8.7% compare
  5. 24 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 8.7% compare
  6. 26 Mongolia 8.6% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private in South Africa was 8.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 2018.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private?
South Africa ranks 23rd out of 36 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - all private rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 58.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private Transfers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-all-private-transfers/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - All Private Transfers
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 351 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of benefits going to the 1st quintile (poorest) relative to the total benefits going to the population