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

South Africa: Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile was 5.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
5.8%
Change on year
up 42.4%
World rank
28th
of 34 countries
All-time high
8.1%
in 2019
All-time low
2.6%
in 2005
Years of data
7
2005–2021

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

24682005201320212005: 2.6 poorest2014: 3.9 poorest2016: 7.1 poorest2018: 4.4 poorest2019: 8.1 poorest2020: 4.1 poorest2021: 5.8 poorest

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in poorest.

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa is 5.8%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 42.4% on the previous year and up 48.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa peaked at 8.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 28th of 34 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile (poorest) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year poorest Change
2005 2.6%
2014 3.9% +49.3%
2016 7.1% +82.6%
2018 4.4% -38.2%
2019 8.1% +84.0%
2020 4.1% -49.7%
2021 5.8% +42.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.6% 2.6% 2.6% 1
2010s 5.9% 3.9% 8.1% 4
2020s 4.9% 4.1% 5.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 25 Ecuador 7.9% compare
  2. 26 Colombia 6.4% compare
  3. 27 Dominican Republic 5.9% compare
  4. 29 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 5.1% compare
  5. 30 Peru 4.6% compare
  6. 31 Paraguay 2.8% 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 headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa?
Poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile in South Africa was 5.8% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 8.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile?
South Africa ranks 28th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is poverty headcount reduction (%) - contributory pensions -1st quintile rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 48.8%. 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 Headcount reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile (poorest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty Headcount reduction (%) - Contributory Pensions -1st quintile in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-reduction-percent-contributory-pensions-1st-quintile-poorest/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty Headcount 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 headcount reduction due to Contributory Pensions programs as % of pre-transfer poverty headcount