Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa
South Africa: Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) was 19.3% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa, 1993–2014
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa is 19.3%, measured in 2014.
The figure is up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa peaked at 19.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.6%, in 1993.
South Africa ranks 24th of 113 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 10.6% | — |
| 2000 | 15.5% | +46.1% |
| 2005 | 18.3% | +18.6% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 18.8% | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 15.5% | 19.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 18.8% | 19.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 21 Thailand 19.8% compare
- 22 Lao People's Democratic Republic 19.7% compare
- 23 Taiwan, China 19.3% compare
- 25 Egypt 19.1% compare
- 26 Rwanda 18.9% compare
- 27 Dominican Republic 18.7%
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)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1225 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 808.52 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.19 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 14,463 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0949 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 626.22 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa?
- Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in South Africa was 19.3% 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 tax) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1% (before tax) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.6% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for income share of the richest 1% (before tax)?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 113 countries with data for 2014.
- Is income share of the richest 1% (before 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 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 before taxes and benefits.