Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions in South Africa

South Africa: Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions was 4.0% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
4.0%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
170th
of 190 countries
All-time high
4.5%
in 2005
All-time low
2.3%
in 2008
Years of data
15
2005–2019

Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions in South Africa, 2005–2019

0123452005201220192005: 4.5 % of profits2006: 4.5 % of profits2007: 4.3 % of profits2008: 2.3 % of profits2009: 2.4 % of profits2010: 2.5 % of profits2011: 4.1 % of profits2012: 4.1 % of profits2013: 4 % of profits2014: 4 % of profits2015: 4 % of profits2016: 4 % of profits2017: 4 % of profits2018: 4 % of profits2019: 4 % of profits

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of profits.

Analysis

The most recent figure for paying taxes: labor tax and contributions in South Africa is 4.0%, measured in 2019.

The figure is up 66.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, paying taxes: labor tax and contributions in South Africa peaked at 4.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2008.

South Africa ranks 170th of 190 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions (% of profits) in South Africa, 2005 to 2019.
Year % of profits Change
2005 4.5%
2006 4.5% +0.0%
2007 4.3% -4.4%
2008 2.3% -46.5%
2009 2.4% +4.3%
2010 2.5% +4.2%
2011 4.1% +64.0%
2012 4.1% +0.0%
2013 4.0% -2.4%
2014 4.0% +0.0%
2015 4.0% +0.0%
2016 4.0% +0.0%
2017 4.0% +0.0%
2018 4.0% +0.0%
2019 4.0% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.6% 2.3% 4.5% 5
2010s 3.9% 2.5% 4.1% 10

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 167 Belize 5.0% compare
  2. 168 Mozambique 4.5% compare
  3. 168 Vanuatu 4.5% compare
  4. 170 Denmark 4.0% compare
  5. 172 Romania 3.4% compare
  6. 173 New Zealand 2.8% compare

See the full ranking of 190 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is paying taxes: labor tax and contributions in South Africa?
Paying taxes: labor tax and contributions in South Africa was 4.0% in 2019, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest paying taxes: labor tax and contributions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 2005.
What is the lowest paying taxes: labor tax and contributions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2008.
How does South Africa rank for paying taxes: labor tax and contributions?
South Africa ranks 170th out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
Is paying taxes: labor tax and contributions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions (% of profits). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/paying-taxes-labor-tax-and-contributions-percent-of-profits/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Paying taxes: Labor tax and contributions (% of profits)
Unit
% of profits
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
190 places, 2,789 data points, 2005–2019
Last refreshed

The labor tax and contributions measures all government mandated labor contributions that are borne by the business in the second year of operation, expressed as a share of commercial pro?t.