Share of population covered by social protection in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population covered by social protection was 78.4 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
78.4
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
10th
of 37 countries
All-time high
84.21
in 2019
All-time low
58.54
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2021
Share of population covered by social protection in South Africa, 2005–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, share of population covered by social protection in South Africa stood at 78.4.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population covered by social protection in South Africa peaked at 84.21 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 58.54, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 10th of 37 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of population covered by social protection in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 58.54 | — |
| 2010 | 62.76 | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 79.87 | +27.3% |
| 2016 | 78.15 | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 78.06 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 84.21 | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 78.66 | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 78.4 | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 78.4 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.99, 1.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 58.54 | 58.54 | 58.54 | 1 |
| 2010s | 76.61 | 62.76 | 84.21 | 5 |
| 2020s | 78.53 | 78.4 | 78.66 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population covered by social protection in South Africa?
- Share of population covered by social protection in South Africa was 78.4 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population covered by social protection recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 84.21 in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of population covered by social protection recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.54 in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population covered by social protection?
- South Africa ranks 10th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of population covered by social protection rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population covered by social protection. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).