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.
Average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.51 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 3.42 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 3.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 3.22 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 3.45 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 3.87 international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 4.43 international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.7% |
| 2007 | 4.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.5% |
| 2010 | 6.51 international-$ in 2021 prices | +34.1% |
| 2011 | 6.83 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 7.55 international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.6% |
| 2013 | 8.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.8% |
| 2014 | 7.63 international-$ in 2021 prices | -12.0% |
| 2015 | 8.26 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 2.71 international-$ in 2021 prices | -67.2% |
| 2019 | 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.39 international-$ in 2021 prices, 43% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.48 international-$ in 2021 prices, 79% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average hourly earnings of employees in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | -67.2% | 8.26 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.71 international-$ in 2021 prices |
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
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.