Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa
South Africa: Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) was 0.0115 units per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa, 2005–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
In 2025, total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) in South Africa stood at 0.0115 units per person.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) in South Africa peaked at 0.0138 units per person in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.0104 units per person, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 163rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0.0137 units per person | — |
| 2006 | 0.0137 units per person | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0138 units per person | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 0.0133 units per person | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0125 units per person | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 0.0119 units per person | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 0.0121 units per person | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.012 units per person | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0121 units per person | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.0122 units per person | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.0125 units per person | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 0.0123 units per person | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.0123 units per person | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.0122 units per person | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.0122 units per person | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.0104 units per person | -14.5% |
| 2021 | 0.0104 units per person | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 0.011 units per person | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 0.0116 units per person | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 0.0117 units per person | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 0.0115 units per person | -1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0115 units per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0174 units per person, 66% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0115 units per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0148 units per person, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0134 units per person | 0.0125 units per person | 0.0138 units per person | 5 |
| 2010s | 0.0122 units per person | 0.0119 units per person | 0.0125 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0111 units per person | 0.0104 units per person | 0.0117 units per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 160 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.0119 units per person compare
- 161 United States Virgin Islands 0.0117 units per person compare
- 162 Turkmenistan 0.0115 units per person compare
- 164 Jordan 0.0113 units per person compare
- 165 Samoa 0.0113 units per person compare
- 166 Gabon 0.011 units per person compare
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 total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) in South Africa?
- Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) in South Africa was 0.0115 units per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0138 units per person in 2007.
- What is the lowest total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0104 units per person in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled)?
- South Africa ranks 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Total weekly hours worked of employed persons International Labour Organization
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.