Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom) in South Africa

South Africa: Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom) was 0.98 score in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
0.98 score
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
140th
of 203 countries
All-time high
1.34 score
in 2022
All-time low
0.98 score
in 2015
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) in South Africa, 2015–2024

00.511.52015201920242015: 0.98 score2016: 0.98 score2017: 0.98 score2018: 0.98 score2019: 0.98 score2020: 0.98 score2021: 0.98 score2022: 1.3 score2023: 0.98 score2024: 0.98 score

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in score.

Analysis

The most recent figure for level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) in South Africa is 0.98 score, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) in South Africa peaked at 1.34 score in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.98 score, in 2015.

That places South Africa 140th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation in South Africa, 2015 to 2024.
Year score Change
2015 0.98 score —
2016 0.98 score +0.0%
2017 0.98 score +0.0%
2018 0.98 score +0.0%
2019 0.98 score +0.0%
2020 0.98 score +0.0%
2021 0.98 score +0.0%
2022 1.34 score +36.7%
2023 0.98 score -26.9%
2024 0.98 score +0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 0.98 score is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.8 score, 54% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 0.98 score is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.64 score, 60% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 0.98 score 0.98 score 0.98 score 5
2020s 1.05 score 0.98 score 1.34 score 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 137 Burkina Faso 1.07 score compare
  2. 137 Seychelles 1.07 score compare
  3. 139 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.03 score compare
  4. 140 Cook Islands 0.98 score compare
  5. 142 Micronesia 0.91 score compare
  6. 142 Poland 0.91 score compare

See the full ranking of 239 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) in South Africa?
Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) in South Africa was 0.98 score in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.34 score in 2022.
What is the lowest level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.98 score in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of)?
South Africa ranks 140th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
Is level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/level-of-national-compliance-with-labour-rights-freedom-of-association-and-collective/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation
Unit
score
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
239 places, 2,390 data points, 2015–2024
Last refreshed