Palma ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Palma ratio was 4 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Palma ratio in South Africa, 1993–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for palma ratio in South Africa is 4, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 34.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio in South Africa peaked at 7.5 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 3rd of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Palma ratio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 5.69 | — |
| 2000 | 5.19 | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 7.5 | +44.6% |
| 2008 | 6.75 | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 6.1 | -9.6% |
| 2014 | 5.65 | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 4 | -29.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.5, 2.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.65, 2.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.69 | 5.69 | 5.69 | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.48 | 5.19 | 7.5 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.87 | 5.65 | 6.1 | 2 |
| 2020s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palma ratio in South Africa?
- Palma ratio in South Africa was 4 in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palma ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5 in 2005.
- What is the lowest palma ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for palma ratio?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is palma ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.4%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Palma ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The Palma ratio is a measure of inequality that divides the share received by the richest 10% by the share of the poorest 40%. Higher values indicate higher inequality.