South Africa vs Namibia: Which country pays workers more?

South Africa and Namibia have different national minimum wage systems, with workers in the two neighbouring countries earning different statutory minimum rates depending on their sector.

South Africa’s National Minimum Wage increased to R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026, up from R28.79. The rate applies to ordinary hours worked and includes farm and domestic workers.

Namibia, meanwhile, introduced its first national minimum wage in January 2025, setting a general rate of N$18 per hour.

Because the Namibian dollar is pegged one-to-one to the South African rand, N$18 is equivalent to R18 for the purpose of this comparison.

South Africa vs Namibia minimum wage

Worker category	South Africa	Namibia
General minimum wage	R30.23/hour	N$18/hour
Domestic workers	R30.23/hour	N$15/hour
Agricultural workers	R30.23/hour	N$14/hour
Security workers	R30.23/hour	N$16/hour

South Africa’s 2026 minimum wage applies across the categories listed above, although workers on the Expanded Public Works Programme have a separate minimum of R16.62 per hour.

Namibia has taken a phased approach for some categories.

Domestic workers moved to N$15 per hour from 1 January 2026 and are scheduled to reach N$18 in 2027.

Agricultural workers increased to N$14 per hour in 2026 and are also scheduled to reach N$18 in 2027.

Security workers moved to N$16 per hour in 2026 and are scheduled to reach N$18 in 2027.

What does this mean monthly?

Neither country sets its national minimum wage as a single statutory monthly amount; the rates are expressed hourly.

Using a simple illustration of 45 hours per week over 52 weeks, South Africa’s R30.23 hourly rate works out to approximately R5 895 per month.

Using the same calculation, Namibia’s N$18 general minimum wage works out to about N$3 510 per month.

These figures are illustrative calculations rather than official monthly minimum wages, and actual earnings can vary depending on hours worked, overtime and the worker’s sector.

For workers in the domestic, agricultural and security sectors, Namibia’s phased rates are currently below its general N$18 minimum, while South Africa’s national rate of R30.23 applies to domestic and farm workers as well as the general workforce.