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Tuesday 7 April 2015

South Africans Are Africa's Third Highest Earners

Switzerland is home to some of the richest individuals in the world, and according to data collated by Numbeo, the average Swiss earns around $6 301 (R76 183) per month after tax, twice the average monthly remuneration that neighbouring German ($2 851 or R34 449) and French ($2 760 or R33 349) citizens receive.

Higher Swiss salaries are driven by solid regulation, an investor-friendly climate and a robust financial services sector.

Trailing significantly behind Switzerland, are Luxembourg citizens who take home around $4 470 (R54 156) per month, followed by Jersey at $4 323 (R52 243).

Ranked 13th in the world, the average American takes home $3 258 (R39 363) while the average Chinese person earns around $731 (R8 832).

The disposable income figures are based on a series of surveys conducted between 2011 and 2014.

Ranked 56th out of 176 countries, South Africa doesn’t fair as well when compared to global figures for developed countries, with the average person taking home $1 400 (R16 928) per month.

But, from a continental perspective, South Africans are the third-highest-paid people in Africa.

Citizens from oil-rich Angola – which the International Energy Agency expects will overtake Nigeria as Africa’s biggest oil producer by next year – are said to earn the highest salaries on the continent, taking home on average $2 650 (R32 043) followed far behind by Gabon, whose citizens earn a disposable income of around $1 742 (R21 064) per month.

According to the New World Wealth Africa Wealth report released late last year, Angola’s uber-wealthy population (individuals worth more than $1 million) has grown by a massive 482% since 2000.

The latest BankservAfrica Disposable Salary Index (BDSI) noted an 8,9% increase in February, outpacing inflation and the largest increase in five months.

Africa’s top 10 average monthly disposable incomes

Angola – $2 650 (R32 043)
Gabon – $1 742 (R21 064)
South Africa – $1 400 (R16 928)
Mauritius – $1 337 (R16 166)
Malawi – $1 098 (R13 269)
Lesotho – $1 017 (R12 290)
Swaziland – $786 (R9 503)
Mozambique – $757 (R9 153)
Nigeria – $731 (R8 834)
Sudan – $650 (R7 859)