Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban in South Africa

South Africa: Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban was 0.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
0.4%
Change on year
up 171.3%
World rank
37th
of 37 countries
All-time high
3.3%
in 2018
All-time low
0.2%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban in South Africa, 2005–2021

01232005201320212005: 0.552010: 0.9922014: 1.42016: 1.72018: 3.32019: 0.7192020: 0.1612021: 0.436

Source: ASPIRE.

Analysis

The most recent figure for coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban in South Africa is 0.4%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 171.3% on the previous year and down 56.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban in South Africa peaked at 3.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 37th of 37 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2005 0.6%
2010 1.0% +80.3%
2014 1.4% +44.1%
2016 1.7% +17.4%
2018 3.3% +97.7%
2019 0.7% -78.3%
2020 0.2% -77.7%
2021 0.4% +171.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 1
2010s 1.6% 0.7% 3.3% 5
2020s 0.3% 0.2% 0.4% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 34 Thailand 1.4% compare
  2. 35 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.2% compare
  3. 36 Colombia 0.7% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban in South Africa?
Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban in South Africa was 0.4% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 2018.
What is the lowest coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban?
South Africa ranks 37th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory pensions -urban rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 56.1%. 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 Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/coverage-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-contributory-pensions-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Coverage in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions -urban
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 369 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of population participating in Contributory Pensions programs (includes direct and indirect beneficiaries)