South Africa Income Share Bottom 10%
Income share held by lowest 10% SI.DST.FRST.10
South Africa's income share bottom 10% was 0.90% in 2014, ranked 84th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from 2013. Data from World Bank, covering 1993–2014.
Overview
South Africa's income share bottom 10% stood at 0.90% in 2014, a rise of +0.00pp from 2010. South Africa ranked 84th globally.
South Africa’s income share held by the bottom 10 percent declined from 1.30 percent in 1993 to 0.90 percent in 2014, matching its all-time trough and ranking 84th globally, a position below peer countries such as Colombia at 1.20 percent and Panama at 1.00 percent. The highest recorded share for this group was 1.30 percent, observed in both 1993 and 2000, suggesting a stagnation or worsening in income distribution at the lowest end over more than two decades. With only six data points spanning 1993 to 2014, the limited coverage restricts a more granular understanding of annual fluctuations, yet the downward trend is clear. The drop from 1.30 percent to 0.90 percent between 2000 and 2014 reflects a growing concentration of income among higher earners, deepening inequality at the base of the distribution. This erosion of income share among the poorest segment contrasts with modest improvements in some peer nations and underscores structural economic challenges. Without targeted policies addressing labor market inclusion, asset redistribution, and education access, the income share of South Africa’s bottom 10 percent is unlikely to recover meaningfully in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Bottom 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.90% | +0.00pp | #84 |
| 2010 | 0.90% | −0.10pp | #85 |
| 2008 | 1.00% | +0.00pp | #77 |
| 2005 | 1.00% | −0.30pp | #77 |
| 2000 | 1.30% | +0.00pp | #45 |
| 1993 | 1.30% | – | #28 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
South Africa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw income share bottom 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
South Africa's income share bottom 10% was 0.90% in 2014. Ranked 84th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from the previous year.
South Africa's income share bottom 10% peaked at 1.30% in 1993.
The lowest income share bottom 10% in South Africa was 0.90% in 2010.
South Africa ranks 84th globally in income share bottom 10% as of 2014.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.FRST.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share bottom 10% of South Africa in 2014 was 0.90%. This ranks 84th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_south-africa_income-bottom-10,
title = {South Africa Income Share Bottom 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/south-africa/income-bottom-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}