Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in South Africa
South Africa: Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank was 16.4% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank 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 16.4% for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in 2014. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in South Africa peaked at 16.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 1993.
South Africa ranks 31st of 109 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 15.2% | 14.0% | 16.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 16.0% | 16.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in South Africa?
- Income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in South Africa was 16.4% 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%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 109 countries with data for 2014.
- Is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank 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%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.