Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Labour income share as a percent of GDP was 52.64 in 2026. ▬ Flat
Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa, 2004–2026
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour income share as a percent of gdp in South Africa is 52.64, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour income share as a percent of gdp in South Africa peaked at 56.87 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 50.55, in 2007.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 188 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 51.81 | — |
| 2005 | 51.54 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 51.92 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 50.55 | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 51.64 | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 52.04 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 52.92 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 53.56 | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 54.4 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 55.03 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 55.46 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 56.23 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 56.61 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 56.87 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 56.43 | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 56.77 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 56.62 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 53.83 | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 52.82 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 52.49 | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 52.84 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 52.64 | -0.4% |
| 2026 | 52.64 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.64 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 45.6, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.64 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.69, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.58 | 50.55 | 52.04 | 6 |
| 2010s | 55.43 | 52.92 | 56.87 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.41 | 52.49 | 56.62 | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour income share as a percent of gdp in South Africa?
- Labour income share as a percent of gdp in South Africa was 52.64 in 2026, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour income share as a percent of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 56.87 in 2017.
- What is the lowest labour income share as a percent of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.55 in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for labour income share as a percent of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 188 countries with data for 2026.
- Is labour income share as a percent of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour income share as a percent of GDP (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. The labour income share in GDP is the ratio, in percentage, between total labour income and gross domestic product (a measure of total output), both provided in nominal terms. Labour income includes the compensation of employees and part of the income of the self-employed. Self-employed workers earn from both their work and capital ownership. Total compensation of employees refers to the remuneration, in cash or in kind, payable by an enterprise to an employee in return for work done by the latter during the accounting period. The labour income of self-employed is imputed on the basis of a statistical analysis of employees of similar characteristics. The labour income share after accounting for the labour income of the self-employed is often referred to as the adjusted labour income share in GDP. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.