Average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa
South Africa: Average hourly earnings of employees was 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019. ▲ Rising
Average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa, 2000–2019
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices for average hourly earnings of employees in 2019.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 57.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa peaked at 8.67 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.71 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 61st of 64 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.73 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8 |
| 2010s | 6.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.71 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 58 Mali 2.99 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 59 Myanmar 2.94 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 60 Sri Lanka 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 62 Uganda 2.67 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 63 Bangladesh 2.24 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 64 Rwanda 1.97 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
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 average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa was 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.67 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2013.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.71 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- South Africa ranks 61st out of 64 countries with data for 2019.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.