Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private in South Africa

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private was 24.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
24.6%
Change on year
down 10.1%
World rank
32nd
of 35 countries
All-time high
33.3%
in 2005
All-time low
12.8%
in 2018
Years of data
6
2005–2021

Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private in South Africa, 2005–2021

01020302005201320212005: 33.32016: 26.72018: 12.82019: 24.32020: 27.42021: 24.6

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private in South Africa is 24.6%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private in South Africa peaked at 33.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 2018.

That places South Africa 32nd out of 35 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private Transfers -rural in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 33.3%
2016 26.7% -19.6%
2018 12.8% -52.2%
2019 24.3% +90.3%
2020 27.4% +12.7%
2021 24.6% -10.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33.3% 33.3% 33.3% 1
2010s 21.3% 12.8% 26.7% 3
2020s 26.0% 24.6% 27.4% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 29 Armenia 28.9% compare
  2. 30 Serbia 25.7% compare
  3. 31 Thailand 25.0% compare
  4. 33 Paraguay 23.7% compare
  5. 34 Chile 21.3% compare
  6. 35 Costa Rica 20.8% compare

See the full ranking of 35 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private in South Africa was 24.6% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 33.3% in 2005.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private?
South Africa ranks 32nd out of 35 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - all private rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private Transfers -rural. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-all-private-transfers-rural/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - All Private Transfers -rural
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
35 places, 334 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of benefits going to the richestquintile relative to the total benefits going to the population