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

South Africa: Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory was 77.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
77.3%
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
1st
of 34 countries
All-time high
83.3%
in 2014
All-time low
36.0%
in 2018
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

0204060802005201320212005: 792014: 83.32016: 76.32018: 362019: 75.42020: 79.52021: 77.3

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

In 2021, benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa stood at 77.3%.

The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa peaked at 83.3% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 36.0%, in 2018.

South Africa ranks 1st of 34 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 79.0%
2014 83.3% +5.4%
2016 76.3% -8.4%
2018 36.0% -52.7%
2019 75.4% +109.3%
2020 79.5% +5.4%
2021 77.3% -2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 79.0% 79.0% 79.0% 1
2010s 67.8% 36.0% 83.3% 4
2020s 78.4% 77.3% 79.5% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Colombia 74.2% compare
  2. 3 Paraguay 73.9% compare
  3. 4 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 72.9% 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 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa?
Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory in South Africa was 77.3% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 83.3% in 2014.
What is the lowest benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 36.0% in 2018.
How does South Africa rank for benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - contributory rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. 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) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/benefits-incidence-in-5th-quintile-richest-percent-contributory-pensions-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Benefits incidence in 5th quintile (richest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban
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 richestquintile relative to the total benefits going to the population