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Wealth Inequality in South Africa, 1993–2017

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  • Aroop Chatterjee
  • Léo Czajka
  • Amory Gethin

Abstract

This article estimates the distribution of personal wealth in South Africa by combining microdata covering the universe of income tax returns, household surveys, and macroeconomic balance sheet statistics. South Africa is characterized by unparalleled levels of wealth concentration. The top 10 percent own 86 percent of aggregate wealth and the top 0.1 percent close to one-third. The top 0.01 percent of the distribution (3,500 individuals) concentrate 15 percent of household net worth, more than the bottom 90 percent as a whole. Such levels of inequality can be accounted for in all forms of assets at the top end, including housing, pension funds, and financial assets. There has been no sign of decreasing inequality since the end of apartheid.

Suggested Citation

  • Aroop Chatterjee & Léo Czajka & Amory Gethin, 2022. "Wealth Inequality in South Africa, 1993–2017," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 36(1), pages 19-36.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:36:y:2022:i:1:p:19-36.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wber/lhab012
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    Cited by:

    1. Carranza, Rafael & De Rosa, Mauricio & Flores, Ignacio, 2023. "Wealth Inequality in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12906, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Kerr,Andrew Nicholas & Zondi,Mxolisi, 2024. "Measuring the Upper Tail of the Income and Wealth Distributions," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10836, The World Bank.
    3. Lin, Boqiang & Okyere, Michael Adu, 2023. "Race and energy poverty: The moderating role of subsidies in South Africa," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    4. Alvaredo, Facundo & Berman, Yonatan & Morelli, Salvatore, 2024. "Evidence from the Dead: New Estimates of Wealth Inequality Using the Distribution of Estates," SocArXiv a4frb, Center for Open Science.
    5. Loss, Georg & Naicker, Sara & Richter, Linda & Fink, Günther, 2024. "Early life determinants of social disparities among young adults: A longitudinal study in vulnerable communities in South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    6. Juniours Marire, 2024. "Interactive influence of house prices and the repo rate on household debt in South Africa," Journal of Economic Analysis, Anser Press, vol. 3(1), pages 58-78, March.
    7. Busse, Matthias & Kupzig, Nina & Vogel, Tim, 2025. "The impact of black economic empowerment on the performance of listed firms in South Africa," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 373-388.
    8. Oyenubi, Adeola & Mosomi, Jacqueline, 2024. "Utility of inequality sensitive measures of the gender wage gap: Evidence from South Africa," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 576-590.

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