Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa
South Africa: Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax was 47.9% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa, 2008–2017
Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2017, income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa stood at 47.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa peaked at 53.9% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 47.6%, in 2012.
That places South Africa 1st out of 48 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 51.8% | — |
| 2010 | 53.9% | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 47.6% | -11.6% |
| 2015 | 49.2% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 47.9% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.8% | 51.8% | 51.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 49.7% | 47.6% | 53.9% | 4 |
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)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.62 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 37,072 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,531 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1388 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa?
- Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax in South Africa was 47.9% in 2017, according to Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 10% before and after tax recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 53.9% in 2010.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 10% before and after tax recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.6% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for income share of the richest 10% before and after tax?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 48 countries with data for 2017.
- Is income share of the richest 10% before and after tax rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 10% before and after tax. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of income received by the richest decile (tenth of the population).