Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa

South Africa: Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban was 25.57 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
25.57
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
26th
of 67 countries
All-time high
80,000
in 2002
All-time low
7.67
in 2001
Years of data
17
1995–2020

Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa, 1995–2020

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1995200720201995: 9.52000: 8.62001: 7.72002: 80.0k2003: 8.92004: 8.72010: 17.72011: 18.82012: 20.12013: 20.12014: 19.92015: 19.42016: 20.12017: 21.62018: 21.62019: 232020: 25.6

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

In 2020, median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa stood at 25.57.

That represents a change of up 11.1% on the previous year and up 44.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa peaked at 80,000 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 7.67, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 26th of 67 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 9.53
2000 8.63 -9.4%
2001 7.67 -11.1%
2002 80,000 +1042700.4%
2003 8.92 -100.0%
2004 8.69 -2.6%
2010 17.7 +103.6%
2011 18.8 +6.2%
2012 20.14 +7.1%
2013 20.14 +0.0%
2014 19.95 -1.0%
2015 19.45 -2.5%
2016 20.14 +3.6%
2017 21.58 +7.1%
2018 21.58 +0.0%
2019 23.02 +6.7%
2020 25.57 +11.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 9.53 9.53 9.53 1
2000s 16,007 7.67 80,000 5
2010s 20.25 17.7 23.02 10
2020s 25.57 25.57 25.57 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Mexico 32.99 compare
  2. 24 Nicaragua 27.79 compare
  3. 25 Norway 26.34 compare
  4. 27 Denmark 25.41 compare
  5. 28 Finland 17.78 compare
  6. 29 Guatemala 15.7 compare

See the full ranking of 67 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa?
Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa was 25.57 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 80,000 in 2002.
What is the lowest median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.67 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 67 countries with data for 2020.
Is median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 44.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/median-earnings-per-hour-aged-15-64-local-currency-values-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Median earnings per hour, aged 15-64, local currency values, urban
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
67 places, 898 data points, 1981–2021
Last refreshed