Low pay rate in South Africa
South Africa: Low pay rate was 29.54 in 2015. ▼ Falling
Low pay rate in South Africa, 1995–2015
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for low pay rate in South Africa is 29.54, measured in 2015.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low pay rate in South Africa peaked at 34.6 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 24.03, in 2007.
South Africa ranks 16th of 84 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Low pay rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 34.6 | — |
| 1999 | 32 | -7.5% |
| 2000 | 31.13 | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 31.75 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 31.63 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 30.99 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 29.75 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 26.68 | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 25.82 | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 24.03 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 31.56 | +31.3% |
| 2011 | 33.11 | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 32.75 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 30.77 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 29.62 | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 29.54 | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.3 | 32 | 34.6 | 2 |
| 2000s | 28.97 | 24.03 | 31.75 | 8 |
| 2010s | 31.22 | 29.54 | 33.11 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low pay rate in South Africa?
- Low pay rate in South Africa was 29.54 in 2015, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest low pay rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 34.6 in 1995.
- What is the lowest low pay rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.03 in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for low pay rate?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 84 countries with data for 2015.
- Is low pay rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Low pay rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. This measure of earnings dispersion refers to the proportion of employees whose hourly earnings at all jobs were less than two-thirds of median hourly earnings. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.