Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax) in South Africa
South Africa: Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax) was 19.3% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (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
South Africa recorded 19.3% for income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) in 2014.
That represents a change of up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (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% vs. Gini coefficient (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
More poverty & inequality data for South Africa
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,562 kg per hectare (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 revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 28.1% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) in South Africa?
- Income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (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% vs. gini coefficient (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% vs. gini coefficient (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% vs. gini coefficient (before tax)?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 113 countries with data for 2014.
- Is income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (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% vs. Gini coefficient (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.