Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa

South Africa: Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) was 0.6029 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
0.6029 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
132nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
0.6029 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
0.515 units per square kilometre
in 2010
Years of data
19
2005–2023

Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa, 2005–2023

00.20.40.62005201420232005: 0.558 units per square kilometre2006: 0.566 units per square kilometre2007: 0.575 units per square kilometre2008: 0.561 units per square kilometre2009: 0.535 units per square kilometre2010: 0.515 units per square kilometre2011: 0.527 units per square kilometre2012: 0.533 units per square kilometre2013: 0.547 units per square kilometre2014: 0.557 units per square kilometre2015: 0.584 units per square kilometre2016: 0.579 units per square kilometre2017: 0.582 units per square kilometre2018: 0.592 units per square kilometre2019: 0.598 units per square kilometre2020: 0.519 units per square kilometre2021: 0.529 units per square kilometre2022: 0.568 units per square kilometre2023: 0.603 units per square kilometre

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) in South Africa is 0.6029 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.

That represents a change of up 6.2% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) in South Africa peaked at 0.6029 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.515 units per square kilometre, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 132nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates), per square kilometre in South Africa, 2005 to 2023.
Year units per square kilometre Change
2005 0.5582 units per square kilometre
2006 0.5659 units per square kilometre +1.4%
2007 0.5747 units per square kilometre +1.6%
2008 0.5612 units per square kilometre -2.4%
2009 0.5349 units per square kilometre -4.7%
2010 0.515 units per square kilometre -3.7%
2011 0.5273 units per square kilometre +2.4%
2012 0.5327 units per square kilometre +1.0%
2013 0.5471 units per square kilometre +2.7%
2014 0.5569 units per square kilometre +1.8%
2015 0.5841 units per square kilometre +4.9%
2016 0.5793 units per square kilometre -0.8%
2017 0.5821 units per square kilometre +0.5%
2018 0.5919 units per square kilometre +1.7%
2019 0.5975 units per square kilometre +1.0%
2020 0.519 units per square kilometre -13.1%
2021 0.5286 units per square kilometre +1.8%
2022 0.5675 units per square kilometre +7.4%
2023 0.6029 units per square kilometre +6.2%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 0.6029 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 units per square kilometre, 48% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 0.6029 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.04 units per square kilometre, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.559 units per square kilometre 0.5349 units per square kilometre 0.5747 units per square kilometre 5
2010s 0.5614 units per square kilometre 0.515 units per square kilometre 0.5975 units per square kilometre 10
2020s 0.5545 units per square kilometre 0.519 units per square kilometre 0.6029 units per square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 129 United States 0.6736 units per square kilometre compare
  2. 130 Eswatini 0.6542 units per square kilometre compare
  3. 131 Laos 0.6222 units per square kilometre compare
  4. 133 Mozambique 0.5641 units per square kilometre compare
  5. 134 Bhutan 0.5563 units per square kilometre compare
  6. 135 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.5543 units per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

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 0.6029 units per square kilometre in 2023, 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 0.6029 units per square kilometre in 2023.
What is the lowest total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.515 units per square kilometre in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled)?
South Africa ranks 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
Is total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ilo modelled) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/total-weekly-hours-worked-of-employed-persons-ilo-modelled-estimates-per-square-kilometre/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/total-weekly-hours-worked-of-employed-persons-ilo-modelled-estimates-per-square-kilometre/south-africa/">Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates) divided by Land area (sq. km), 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) ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

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

Indicator
Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates), per square kilometre
Unit
units per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
189 places, 3,569 data points, 2005–2023
Last refreshed

Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled estimates) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.