Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa

South Africa: Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector was 37.99 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
37.99
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
46th
of 74 countries
All-time high
44.32
in 2000
All-time low
35.03
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 44.32001: 43.52002: 43.32003: 42.32004: 42.42005: 43.12006: 41.82007: 42.42008: 402009: 39.22010: 38.72011: 39.42012: 38.92013: 38.32014: 38.42015: 38.32016: 38.22017: 37.92018: 37.42019: 37.92020: 352021: 36.42022: 37.62023: 37.32024: 38

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 37.99 for average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa peaked at 44.32 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 35.03, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 46th of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 44.32
2001 43.46 -1.9%
2002 43.32 -0.3%
2003 42.34 -2.3%
2004 42.37 +0.1%
2005 43.11 +1.7%
2006 41.82 -3.0%
2007 42.37 +1.3%
2008 39.95 -5.7%
2009 39.2 -1.9%
2010 38.74 -1.2%
2011 39.42 +1.8%
2012 38.88 -1.4%
2013 38.33 -1.4%
2014 38.35 +0.1%
2015 38.32 -0.1%
2016 38.17 -0.4%
2017 37.85 -0.8%
2018 37.36 -1.3%
2019 37.92 +1.5%
2020 35.03 -7.6%
2021 36.43 +4.0%
2022 37.57 +3.1%
2023 37.27 -0.8%
2024 37.99 +1.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 37.99 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 39.09, 97% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 37.99 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.41, 92% of the median. (17 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 42.23 39.2 44.32 10
2010s 38.33 37.36 39.42 10
2020s 36.86 35.03 37.99 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 43 Ecuador 38.54 compare
  2. 44 Kyrgyzstan 38.22 compare
  3. 45 Kosovo 38.07 compare
  4. 47 Palestine 37.95 compare
  5. 48 Georgia 37.71 compare
  6. 49 Peru 37.55 compare

See the full ranking of 74 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa?
Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa was 37.99 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 44.32 in 2000.
What is the lowest average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 35.03 in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector?
South Africa ranks 46th out of 74 countries with data for 2024.
Is average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/average-weekly-hours-actually-worked-per-person-in-the-public-sector/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Average weekly hours actually worked per person in the public sector
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
74 places, 1,093 data points, 1976–2026
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Data on hours of work are presented, whenever possible, on the basis of the average number of hours of work per week, and with reference to hours worked in the main (paid) job regardless of working time arrangements (e.g. full-time and part-time). For more information, refer to the Worker and Sector Profiles (PROF) database description.