South Africa Ranks 51st in Global Pension Index; Netherlands Leads

The 2026 Marsh CFA Institute Global Pension Index placed South Africa 51st out of 55 retirement systems, with a score of 50.4, which is a C grade. The Netherlands ranked first with a score of 85.8. South Africa's adequacy score of 37.3 was noted as being below Namibia, Botswana, and Kenya. The index also noted that many South Africans work outside formal employment, relying on the South African Social Security Agency grant.

The ranking reflects challenges in pension support and financial stability within South Africa. The index highlights that South Africa's support for pensioners falls short across adequacy, sustainability, and integrity. This places pressure on the public safety net provided by the South African Social Security Agency.

A study evaluates the economic performance and government efficiency across several African nations, including Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.