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

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory was 0.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
0.7%
Change on year
up 132.4%
World rank
33rd
of 34 countries
All-time high
38.7%
in 2018
All-time low
0.3%
in 2020
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

0102030402005201320212005: 10.5 preT2014: 10.7 preT2016: 0.896 preT2018: 38.7 preT2019: 0.513 preT2020: 0.305 preT2021: 0.708 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 0.7% for benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in 2021.

That represents a change of up 132.4% on the previous year and down 93.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa peaked at 38.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 33rd of 34 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 10.5%
2014 10.7% +1.8%
2016 0.9% -91.6%
2018 38.7% +4213.8%
2019 0.5% -98.7%
2020 0.3% -40.6%
2021 0.7% +132.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.5% 10.5% 10.5% 1
2010s 12.7% 0.5% 38.7% 4
2020s 0.5% 0.3% 0.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 30 Panama 1.8% compare
  2. 31 Paraguay 0.8% compare
  3. 32 Colombia 0.8% compare
  4. 34 Honduras 0.3% 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 benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa was 0.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory?
South Africa ranks 33rd out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 93.4%. 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) (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-contributory-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - 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

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