Income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in South Africa
South Africa: Income share of the richest 1% before and after tax was 16.4% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in South Africa, 1993–2014
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 16.4% for income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in 2014. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in South Africa peaked at 16.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 1993.
South Africa ranks 31st of 109 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 9.4% | — |
| 2000 | 14.0% | +49.1% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 16.0% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 16.0% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 15.2% | 14.0% | 16.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 16.0% | 16.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.7139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1196 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 789.38 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.295 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 1,946 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in South Africa?
- Income share of the richest 1% before and after tax in South Africa was 16.4% in 2014, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1% before and after tax recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1% before and after tax recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for income share of the richest 1% before and after tax?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 109 countries with data for 2014.
- Is income share of the richest 1% before and after tax rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 1% before and after tax. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.