Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa

South Africa: Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values was 23.02 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
23.02
Change on year
up 14.3%
World rank
29th
of 71 countries
All-time high
80,000
in 2002
All-time low
6.5
in 2001
Years of data
19
1995–2020

Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa, 1995–2020

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1995200720201995: 7.72000: 7.52001: 6.52002: 80.0k2003: 7.22004: 72006: 9.22007: 10.42010: 162011: 16.92012: 17.52013: 17.32014: 17.42015: 17.32016: 182017: 19.22018: 19.62019: 20.12020: 23

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 23.02 for median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.3% on the previous year and up 44.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa peaked at 80,000 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 6.5, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 29th of 71 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 25-64, local currency values in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 7.67
2000 7.5 -2.2%
2001 6.5 -13.3%
2002 80,000 +1230669.2%
2003 7.19 -100.0%
2004 7 -2.7%
2006 9.21 +31.5%
2007 10.36 +12.5%
2010 15.95 +54.0%
2011 16.92 +6.1%
2012 17.45 +3.1%
2013 17.26 -1.1%
2014 17.36 +0.6%
2015 17.26 -0.6%
2016 17.95 +4.0%
2017 19.18 +6.8%
2018 19.61 +2.2%
2019 20.14 +2.7%
2020 23.02 +14.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.67 7.67 7.67 1
2000s 11,435 6.5 80,000 7
2010s 17.91 15.95 20.14 10
2020s 23.02 23.02 23.02 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 26 Nicaragua 28.63 compare
  2. 27 Norway 27.19 compare
  3. 28 Denmark 25.47 compare
  4. 30 Netherlands 19.74 compare
  5. 31 Finland 17.74 compare
  6. 32 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 17.05 compare

See the full ranking of 71 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa?
Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa was 23.02 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 80,000 in 2002.
What is the lowest median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6.5 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values?
South Africa ranks 29th out of 71 countries with data for 2020.
Is median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 44.3%. 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 25-64, local currency values. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/median-earnings-per-hour-aged-25-64-local-currency-values/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Median earnings per hour, aged 25-64, local currency values
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
71 places, 953 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed