Compensation of employees (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Compensation of employees (current LCU) was 335.09 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Compensation of employees in South Africa, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, compensation of employees in South Africa stood at 335.09 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 80.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, compensation of employees in South Africa peaked at 335.09 billion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 724.00 million current LCU, in 1972.
South Africa ranks 49th of 156 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Compensation of employees (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 724.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 842.00 million current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1974 | 1.10 billion current LCU | +30.6% |
| 1975 | 1.31 billion current LCU | +19.5% |
| 1976 | 1.53 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1977 | 1.72 billion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1978 | 2.00 billion current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1979 | 2.39 billion current LCU | +19.5% |
| 1980 | 3.05 billion current LCU | +27.6% |
| 1981 | 3.83 billion current LCU | +25.9% |
| 1982 | 5.08 billion current LCU | +32.4% |
| 1983 | 5.84 billion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1984 | 7.68 billion current LCU | +31.5% |
| 1985 | 8.56 billion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 15.98 billion current LCU | +86.6% |
| 1989 | 19.41 billion current LCU | +21.5% |
| 1990 | 23.58 billion current LCU | +21.5% |
| 1991 | 28.30 billion current LCU | +20.0% |
| 1992 | 52.97 billion current LCU | +87.2% |
| 1993 | 60.31 billion current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1994 | 42.59 billion current LCU | -29.4% |
| 1995 | 25.37 billion current LCU | -40.4% |
| 1996 | 31.15 billion current LCU | +22.8% |
| 1997 | 33.78 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 36.35 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 37.92 billion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 40.04 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 44.49 billion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 48.40 billion current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 53.92 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 60.21 billion current LCU | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 67.29 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 73.41 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 84.29 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 2008 | 94.94 billion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 2009 | 107.84 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 128.26 billion current LCU | +18.9% |
| 2011 | 138.26 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 153.76 billion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 2013 | 171.53 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 2014 | 185.49 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 209.69 billion current LCU | +13.0% |
| 2016 | 228.56 billion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 247.75 billion current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 261.29 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 276.49 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 278.23 billion current LCU | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 292.68 billion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 315.86 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2023 | 328.53 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 335.09 billion current LCU | +2.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 335.09 billion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.94 billion current LCU, 3.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 335.09 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 317.20 billion current LCU, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Compensation of employees (current LCU) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +86.6% | 8.56 billion current LCU | 15.98 billion current LCU |
| 1992 | +87.2% | 28.30 billion current LCU | 52.97 billion current LCU |
| 1995 | -40.4% | 42.59 billion current LCU | 25.37 billion current LCU |
| 1994 | -29.4% | 60.31 billion current LCU | 42.59 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.45 billion current LCU | 724.00 million current LCU | 2.39 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 8.68 billion current LCU | 3.05 billion current LCU | 19.41 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1990s | 37.23 billion current LCU | 23.58 billion current LCU | 60.31 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.48 billion current LCU | 40.04 billion current LCU | 107.84 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 200.11 billion current LCU | 128.26 billion current LCU | 276.49 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 310.08 billion current LCU | 278.23 billion current LCU | 335.09 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More public sector data for South Africa
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- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is compensation of employees in South Africa?
- Compensation of employees in South Africa was 335.09 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest compensation of employees recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 335.09 billion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest compensation of employees recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 724.00 million current LCU in 1972.
- How does South Africa rank for compensation of employees?
- South Africa ranks 49th out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is compensation of employees rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Compensation of employees (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Compensation of employees is defined as the total 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. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.