Monthly minimum wage in South Africa
South Africa: Monthly minimum wage was 4,777 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Monthly minimum wage in South Africa, 2003–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for monthly minimum wage in South Africa is 4,777, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.5% on the previous year and up 92.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly minimum wage in South Africa peaked at 4,777 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,204, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 80th of 173 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Monthly minimum wage in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1,204 | — |
| 2004 | 1,310 | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 1,425 | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 1,505 | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 1,595 | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 1,737 | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 1,947 | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 1,908 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 1,972 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 2,140 | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 2,291 | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 2,483 | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 2,707 | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 2,872 | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 3,090 | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 3,308 | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 3,500 | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 3,633 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 3,796 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 4,058 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 4,403 | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 4,777 | +8.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,532 | 1,204 | 1,947 | 7 |
| 2010s | 2,627 | 1,908 | 3,500 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,133 | 3,633 | 4,777 | 5 |
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 monthly minimum wage in South Africa?
- Monthly minimum wage in South Africa was 4,777 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest monthly minimum wage recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,777 in 2024.
- What is the lowest monthly minimum wage recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,204 in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for monthly minimum wage?
- South Africa ranks 80th out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is monthly minimum wage rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.4%. 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 Monthly minimum wage. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data refer to the minimum monthly earnings of all employees as of December 31st of each year. Minimum wages are not reported for countries for which collective bargaining is in place for minimum wages. In cases where a national minimum wage is not mandated, the minimum wage in place in the capital or major city is used. In some cases, an average of multiple regional minimum wages is used. In countries where the minimum wage is set at the sectoral level or occupational level, the minimum wage for manufacturing or unskilled workers is generally applied. Data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or purchasing power parity (PPP) rates 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.