Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in South Africa
South Africa: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 42.3 Hours per week per person in 2025. βΌ Falling
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in South Africa, 2008β2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.
Analysis
In 2025, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in South Africa stood at 42.3 Hours per week per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in South Africa peaked at 45.41 Hours per week per person in 2008 and was at its lowest, 42.14 Hours per week per person, in 2022.
That places South Africa 4th out of 39 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.01 Hours per week per person | 44.62 Hours per week per person | 45.41 Hours per week per person | 2 |
| 2010s | 43.84 Hours per week per person | 43.3 Hours per week per person | 44.47 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.32 Hours per week per person | 42.14 Hours per week per person | 42.48 Hours per week per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Colombia 43.6 Hours per week per person compare
- 2 Costa Rica 43.23 Hours per week per person compare
- 3 Mexico 42.6 Hours per week per person compare
- 5 Greece 40.96 Hours per week per person compare
- 6 North Macedonia 40.69 Hours per week per person compare
- 7 Israel 40.16 Hours per week per person compare
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in South Africa?
- Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in South Africa was 42.3 Hours per week per person in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.41 Hours per week per person in 2008.
- What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.14 Hours per week per person in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on average usual weekly hours worked in the main job broken down by total employment, full-time employment and part-time employment. Actual hours of work, instead of usual hours of work, are only available in some countries (Mexico and Korea). Data are further broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and standardised age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+ and total) . Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at: OECD Ratification Dates.