Income share held by highest 20% in South Africa
South Africa: Income share held by highest 20% was 59.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Income share held by highest 20% in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share held by highest 20% in South Africa is 59.5%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in South Africa peaked at 71.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 59.5%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 123 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Income share held by highest 20% in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 64.3% | — |
| 2000 | 62.7% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 71.2% | +13.6% |
| 2008 | 68.1% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 66.5% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 65.0% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 59.5% | -8.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.3% | 64.3% | 64.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 67.3% | 62.7% | 71.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 65.8% | 65.0% | 66.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 59.5% | 59.5% | 59.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More poverty & inequality data for South Africa
- Data deprivation poverty surveys per decade 1 (2025)
- Fertility rate vs the share living in extreme poverty 2.22 (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty 4,562 (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -20.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 28.13 (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality 28.13 (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, annual growth rate 0.8444 % change on previous year (2022)
- Gender inequality index from the human development report 0.388 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share held by highest 20% in South Africa?
- Income share held by highest 20% in South Africa was 59.5% in 2022, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest income share held by highest 20% recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 71.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.5% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Income share held by highest 20%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.