Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions was 27.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
27.2%
Change on year
up 22.6%
World rank
1st
of 34 countries
All-time high
27.2%
in 2021
All-time low
13.0%
in 2005
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, 2005–2021

01020302005201320212005: 13 preT2014: 17.3 preT2016: 23.7 preT2018: 19.4 preT2019: 24.3 preT2020: 22.2 preT2021: 27.2 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

In 2021, benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa stood at 27.2%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

The figure is up 22.6% on the previous year and up 57.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa peaked at 27.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2005.

That places South Africa 1st out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 13.0%
2014 17.3% +33.7%
2016 23.7% +36.7%
2018 19.4% -18.2%
2019 24.3% +25.2%
2020 22.2% -8.6%
2021 27.2% +22.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.0% 13.0% 13.0% 1
2010s 21.2% 17.3% 24.3% 4
2020s 24.7% 22.2% 27.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Argentina 25.0% compare
  2. 3 Dominican Republic 24.6% compare
  3. 4 Paraguay 23.6% 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 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions in South Africa was 27.2% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2021.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - contributory pensions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 57.0%. 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 Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 4th quintile (%) - Contributory Pensions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-4th-quintile-percent-contributory-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence 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

Percentage of benefits going to the fourth quintile relative to the total benefits going to the population