Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile in South Africa

South Africa: Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile was 12.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
12.0%
Change on year
up 41.2%
World rank
25th
of 34 countries
All-time high
15.4%
in 2019
All-time low
6.1%
in 2005
Years of data
7
2005–2021

Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile in South Africa, 2005–2021

0510152005201320212005: 6.1 poorest2014: 9.2 poorest2016: 13.5 poorest2018: 11.5 poorest2019: 15.4 poorest2020: 8.5 poorest2021: 12 poorest

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in poorest.

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa is 12.0%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 41.2% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa peaked at 15.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.1%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 25th of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile (poorest) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year poorest Change
2005 6.1%
2014 9.2% +51.6%
2016 13.5% +46.8%
2018 11.5% -15.2%
2019 15.4% +33.7%
2020 8.5% -44.6%
2021 12.0% +41.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 6.1% 6.1% 6.1% 1
2010s 12.4% 9.2% 15.4% 4
2020s 10.3% 8.5% 12.0% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 22 Viet Nam 17.8% compare
  2. 23 Mexico 14.9% compare
  3. 24 Panama 12.5% compare
  4. 26 Ecuador 10.1% compare
  5. 27 Dominican Republic 8.8% compare
  6. 28 Colombia 8.0% 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 poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa?
Poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa was 12.0% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 2019.
What is the lowest poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6.1% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile?
South Africa ranks 25th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty gap reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. 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 Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile (poorest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-gap-reduction-percent-contributory-pensions-1st-quintile-poorest/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Gap reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile (poorest)
Unit
poorest
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 347 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Poverty gap reduction due to Contributory Pensions programs as % of pre-transfer poverty gap