SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa

South Africa: SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP was 52.64 in 2026. ▬ Flat

Latest (2026)
52.64
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
53rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
56.87
in 2017
All-time low
50.55
in 2007
Years of data
23
2004–2026

SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa, 2004–2026

02040602004201520262004: 51.82005: 51.52006: 51.92007: 50.62008: 51.62009: 522010: 52.92011: 53.62012: 54.42013: 552014: 55.52015: 56.22016: 56.62017: 56.92018: 56.42019: 56.82020: 56.62021: 53.82022: 52.82023: 52.52024: 52.82025: 52.62026: 52.6

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 52.64 for sdg indicator 10.4.1: labour income share as a percent of gdp in 2026.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, sdg indicator 10.4.1: 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.

South Africa ranks 53rd of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa, 2004 to 2026.
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 50 Hong Kong 53.41 compare
  2. 51 Serbia 53.39 compare
  3. 52 Luxembourg 52.89 compare
  4. 54 Taiwan 52.55 compare
  5. 55 Georgia 52.09 compare
  6. 56 New Caledonia 51.98 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is sdg indicator 10.4.1: labour income share as a percent of gdp in South Africa?
Sdg indicator 10.4.1: 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 sdg indicator 10.4.1: 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 sdg indicator 10.4.1: 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 sdg indicator 10.4.1: labour income share as a percent of gdp?
South Africa ranks 53rd out of 188 countries with data for 2026.
Is sdg indicator 10.4.1: 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 SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/sdg-indicator-10-4-1-labour-income-share-as-a-percent-of-gdp/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 6,329 data points, 2004–2026
Last refreshed

The series is part of the ILO modelled estimates and is harmonized to account for differences in national data and scope of coverage, collection and tabulation methodologies as well as for other country-specific factors. 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 Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.