Median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa
South Africa: Median monthly earnings of employees was 4,200 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2020, median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa stood at 4,200. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.9% on the previous year and up 42.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa peaked at 4,200 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,371, in 2000.
That places South Africa 52nd out of 92 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,371 | — |
| 2001 | 1,550 | +13.1% |
| 2002 | 1,500 | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 1,500 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1,550 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 1,732 | +11.7% |
| 2006 | 2,000 | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 2,050 | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 2,950 | +43.9% |
| 2011 | 3,000 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 3,200 | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 3,100 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3,965 | +27.9% |
| 2020 | 4,200 | +5.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4,200 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11,337, 37% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4,200 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50,000, 8% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +43.9% | 2,050 | 2,950 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,657 | 1,371 | 2,050 | 8 |
| 2010s | 3,202 | 2,950 | 3,965 | 7 |
| 2020s | 4,200 | 4,200 | 4,200 | 1 |
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 median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa?
- Median monthly earnings of employees in South Africa was 4,200 in 2020, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest median monthly earnings of employees recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,200 in 2020.
- What is the lowest median monthly earnings of employees recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,371 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for median monthly earnings of employees?
- South Africa ranks 52nd out of 92 countries with data for 2020.
- Is median monthly earnings of employees rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Median monthly earnings of employees (Local currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. The median is the middle value, with half of employees earning less and half earning more. Data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates for private consumption expenditures. The latter series allows for international comparisons by taking account of the differences in relative prices between countries. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.