Maternal leave benefits in South Africa

South Africa: Maternal leave benefits was 66.0% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
66.0%
Change on year
up 10.0%
World rank
123rd
of 134 countries
All-time high
66.0%
in 2017
All-time low
60.0%
in 2009
Years of data
5
2009–2017

Maternal leave benefits in South Africa, 2009–2017

02040602009201320172009: 60 % of wages paid in covered period2011: 60 % of wages paid in covered period2013: 60 % of wages paid in covered period2015: 60 % of wages paid in covered period2017: 66 % of wages paid in covered period

Source: World Bank, Women, Business and the Law. Measured in % of wages paid in covered period.

Analysis

The most recent figure for maternal leave benefits in South Africa is 66.0%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal leave benefits in South Africa peaked at 66.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 60.0%, in 2009.

That places South Africa 123rd out of 134 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Maternal leave benefits in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Maternal leave benefits (% of wages paid in covered period) in South Africa, 2009 to 2017.
Year % of wages paid in covered period Change
2009 60.0%
2011 60.0% +0.0%
2013 60.0% +0.0%
2015 60.0% +0.0%
2017 66.0% +10.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 66.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 100.0%, 66% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 66.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.0%, 66% of the median. (35 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 60.0% 60.0% 60.0% 1
2010s 61.5% 60.0% 66.0% 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 124 Albania 65.0% compare
  2. 125 Kosovo 63.0% compare
  3. 125 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 63.0% compare

See the full ranking of 134 places →

More gender data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal leave benefits in South Africa?
Maternal leave benefits in South Africa was 66.0% in 2017, according to World Bank, Women, Business and the Law.
What is the highest maternal leave benefits recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 2017.
What is the lowest maternal leave benefits recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 60.0% in 2009.
How does South Africa rank for maternal leave benefits?
South Africa ranks 123rd out of 134 countries with data for 2017.
Is maternal leave benefits rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Women, Business and the Law, published as part of Maternal leave benefits (% of wages paid in covered period). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Maternal leave benefits in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Women, Business and the Law. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-leave-benefits-percent-of-wages-paid-in-covered-period/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Maternal leave benefits (% of wages paid in covered period)
Unit
% of wages paid in covered period
Source
World Bank, Women, Business and the Law
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
134 places, 670 data points, 2009–2017
Last refreshed

Maternity leave benefits refers to the total percentage of wages covered by all sources during paid maternity leave.