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🇿🇦 Updated March 2, 2026

Income Distribution in South Africa

Comprehensive analysis of income share, growth, and inequality gaps across all economic brackets, powered by real-time fiscal data.

Overview Income Distribution Top Earners

Income Share Breakdown

Bottom 50%
5.27%
share of total income
Middle 40%
28.18%
share of total income
Top 10%
66.54%
share of total income
Top 1%
21.93%
share of total income

Income Level Breakdown

Annual average income per adult (ZAR)

BracketAvg. Income (ZAR)Threshold (ZAR)
Bottom 50%7,713 ZAR< 11,569
Middle 40%102,537 ZAR11,569 - 581,049
Top 10%968,415 ZAR> 581,049
Top 1%3,191,337 ZAR> 1,914,802
* Data reflects pre-tax national income. Source: World Inequality Database (2026 projection).

Growth Analysis (YoY)

+-2.44%

Average increase across all brackets (2023 to 2024)

National Avg
-2.44%
Bottom 50%
-11.38%
Top 1% Growth
10.8%

Inequality Gap

66.5%
held by top 10%

The Top 10% earn 6.7x the national average salary in South Africa.

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