How much does YouTube pay in South Africa (with examples)

With over two billion active monthly users, YouTube has transformed from a video-sharing platform to a lucrative career path for content creators worldwide. In South Africa, where the freelancing sector is steadily growing, earnings can range widely depending on content quality, consistency, and audience size. So, how much does YouTube pay in South Africa?

Key takeaways

• The first video on YouTube is titled Me at the Zoo and was uploaded on April 23, 2005. Today, YouTube is one of the world's largest and best-paying video-sharing platforms.
• YouTubers make money through the YouTube Partner Program, which is available to content creators who meet the platform's guidelines and policies.
• YouTubers also earn money through donations from fans, which can be made through sites like Buy Me a Coffee, Patreon, and Ko-fi.
• Most YouTubers also earn money through Google AdSense, which pays creators based on video views. The revenue depends on the CPM (Cost Per Thousand Impressions), which is how much advertisers are willing to pay per 1,000 views.

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How much does YouTube pay in South Africa in 2025?

The average CPM in South Africa ranges from R8.50 ($0.46) to R53.79 ($2.93) per 1,000 ad views, depending on the niche and engagement. Educational, entertainment, sports, health, financial, beauty lifestyle as well as tech content tend to have higher CPM rates due to advertiser demand.

For instance, Podcast and Chill with MacG, hosted by Macgyver Mukwevho, is among the highest-paid South African entertainment YouTube channel.

According to Social Blade, MacG attracts around 8.1 million monthly views as of February 16, 2025, and earns between $24,000 – $393,000 (R440,000 – R7,220,000) annually, making entertainment content.

Ghost Hlubi is another highest-earning YouTube in the country. He posts pranks and comedy videos and his channel has over 900,000 subscribers. Hlubi's estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $10,500 – $168,200 (R192,900 – R3,090,300) as of February 16, 2025.

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To diversify income streams, many YouTubers partner with brands to advertise products or services in their YouTube videos. Earnings from these agreements range from a few thousand Rands for smaller channels to hundreds of thousands for top-tier influencers.

Creators with eligible channels can offer their subscribers an option to pay a monthly fee. This works well for YouTubers with highly engaged audiences who want exclusive perks.

How do you make money on YouTube in South Africa?

Your channel can make money through: the YouTube Partner Program, Google AdSense, donations from fans, selling branded merchandise directly to your viewers, and advertising products or services for brands by adding affiliate marketing links in the descriptions box.

To earn money through donations from fans, let your audience support you with fan funding. You must license your content to the media, Crowdfund your creative projects, use channel memberships, and use Super Chat and Super Stickers.

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How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube in South Africa?

To join the YouTube Partner Program, your channel must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year. Once you reach that, you can apply to YouTube's Partner Program and monetize your channel through ads, subscriptions, and channel memberships.

When does YouTube start paying you and how much?

You must meet the milestone of 4,000 YouTube watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days to start earning from R8.50 ($0.46) to R53.79 ($2.93) per 1,000 ad views.

Once you're part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can earn money from Google AdSense ads on your videos. The amount you make depends on how your viewers interact with ads. Some marketers pay per click while others pay per view.

How much do you get paid per 1,000 views on YouTube in South Africa?

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YouTube pay rates per 1,000 ad views for South African creators range between R8.50 ($0.46) to R53.79 ($2.93) per 1,000 ad views.

How much does YouTube pay for 1 million views?

South African YouTubers earn between $3,000 (R55,119.69) and $5,000 (R91,866.15) on average for every 1 million ad views. The amount paid varies depending on factors like:

• Views, which is the most basic factor: More views translate to more opportunities for ads to be displayed, directly impacting potential earnings.
• Watch Time: Higher watch time per view can lead to increased ad revenue because advertisers value viewers who engage with content for longer durations.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): The more viewers click on displayed ads, the more your channel can attract higher-paying advertisers.
• Audience demographics: Advertisers who want to share ads with your target audience are more likely to pay more to advertise on your channel.
• Niche: Advertisers are willing to pay more if your content appeals to their target audience.
• Video quality: Engaging editing and quality videos can attract premium advertisers.
• Video length: Longer videos allow for more ad placements, but excessively long videos can decrease watch time.
• Channel monetization strategy: Utilizing various monetization options like sponsorships, merchandise sales, or YouTube Premium memberships can diversify income streams.
• Seasonality: Advertisers might spend more during specific times (holidays, back-to-school season). So, optimizing content for such periods can be beneficial.

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What is the minimum amount to withdraw from AdSense?

YouTube payments are made to your AdSense account, and you can withdraw money once your account reaches the payment threshold of $100. Remember, when applying to join the YouTube Partner Program, the platform will review your videos to ensure your content aligns with its other policies.

How do you receive payment from AdSense?

Your revenue will be paid out once a month through a wire transfer to your bank account. To receive your payments, provide your bank account information on the Intro to AdSense payments page. Here is how to receive payment from AdSense:

• Create an AdSense account.
• Sign into your AdSense account.
• Go to "Payments."
• Select "Add payment method."
• Choose "EFT."
• Enter your bank account details.
• Set your bank account details as the primary payment method.
• Click "Save."
• AdSense will send a test deposit to verify your account. When you receive the test deposit, log back into your AdSense account and click "Verify now."
• Select the test deposit amount and confirm.

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Do YouTubers pay tax in South Africa?

YouTubers in South Africa pay tax on their income. If you earn above the tax threshold, you must register as a provisional taxpayer and pay tax twice a year based on your estimated income, with a final payment due after filing your tax return.

How long does it take to make money on YouTube?

If you're starting a YouTube channel from scratch, you need to consistently create high-quality content for at least six to eight months (unless one of your videos goes viral) to start seeing results and perhaps, make some money.

How do you start a YouTube channel in South Africa?

To start a YouTube channel in South Africa:

• Sign up or create a Google account.
• Log into YouTube through that account.
• Go to your profile and select "Create a channel" then set up your YouTube channel, including choosing a channel name.

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• Select a niche for your content, which is a specific topic or area of expertise that aligns with your interests and target audience in South Africa.
• Start producing quality videos and content that is relevant to your niche and appeals to South African viewers.
• Optimize your videos with relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to help people discover your content on YouTube search.
• Consistently upload new content to engage your audience.
• Share your YouTube channel on social media platforms.
• Consider collaborating with other South African YouTubers.

How much does YouTube pay in South Africa per month?

Top creators in the country earn a minimum of around $54,400 (R988,000) per month and a minimum of about $653,000 (R11.85 million) annually.

How many YouTube subscribers do you need to make $2000 a month?

To consistently make $2,000 (R36,746.46) monthly on YouTube in South Africa, you would likely need between 100,000 and 500,000 subscribers and roughly 400,000 to 800,000 monthly ad views.

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However, there is no fixed subscriber count guarantee to earn $2,000 monthly, since YouTube pay rates change depending on your content niche, engagement rate, and ability to secure sponsorships and brand deals.

Who is the highest-paid YouTuber?

Many freelancers in South Africa have made a fortune from the platform. Below is a compiled list of some of the highest-paid YouTubers in Mzansi, with estimates of their annual YouTube earnings, as derived from the Social Blade YouTube money calculator:

1. Noel Deyzel: $361,000 – $5.9 million

• Full name: Noel Deyzel
• Born: September 30, 1984
• Age: 40 years (as of February 2025)

Noel Deyzel, formerly WanderBoy2010, is a South African bodybuilder and fitness expert known for making short fitness videos that last under two minutes.

Noel Deyzel's YouTube channel has over seven million subscribers. His estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $361,000 – $5.9 million (R6,632,000 – R108,402,057,000) as of February 16, 2025.

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2. MacG: $24,000 – $393,000

• Full name: Macgyver Mukwevho
• Born: November 6, 1988
• Age: 36 years (as of February 2025)

Macgyver Mukwevho is a South African podcaster, entrepreneur, and broadcaster. He is best known for hosting Podcast and Chill with MacG.

MacG's YouTube channel has over a million subscribers and earns between $24,000 – $393,000 (R440,000 – R7,220,000) annually as of February 16, 2025.

3. Ghost Hlubi: $10,500 – $168,200

• Full name: Khanya Hlubi
• Born: April 10, 1998
• Age: 26 years (as of February 2025)

Ghost Hlubi is known largely for pranks and comedy videos. His girlfriend, Siyamthanda, appears in many of his videos.

As of February 16, 2025, his channel has over 900K subscribers and his estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $10,500 – $168,200 (R192,900 – R3,090,300).

4. Die Antwoord: $7,000 – $111,000

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• Full name: Die Antwoord
• Members: Watkin Tudor "Ninja" Jones and Anri "Yolandi Visser" du Toit
• Years active: 2008–present

Die Antwoord is a South African hip-hop duo formed in Cape Town in 2008. The group comprises vocalists Watkin Tudor "Ninja" Jones and Anri "Yolandi Visser" du Toit.

The Die Antwoord channel has over three million subscribers and as of February 16, 2025, its estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $7,000 – $111,000 (R128,600 – R2,039,000).

5. Lasizwe Dambuza: $5,000 – $90,000

• Full name: Thulasizwe Siphiwe Dambuza
• Born: July 19, 1998
• Age: 26 years (as of February 2025)

Lasizwe is a South African social media personality, actor, television presenter, and YouTuber. He posts entertaining vlogs on his channel, which he started on 26th January 2017.

Lasizwe's channel has over 140K subscribers and its estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $5,000 – $90,000 (R91,000 – R1,653,000) as of February 16, 2025.

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6. Lerato Nxumalo: $2,000 – $35,000

• Full name: Lerato Nxumalo
• Born: February 9, 1999
• Age: 26 years (as of 2025)

Lerato Nxumalo is one of the most talented actresses in Mzansi. Many also know her as a content creator, specifically a lifestyle and beauty vlogger.

As of February 16, 2025, her channel has over a million subscribers and her estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $2,000 – $35,000 (R36,000 – R643,000).

7. Liezl Jayne Strydom: $1,000 – $22,000

• Full name: Liezl Jayne Strydom
• Born: November 26, 1992
• Age: 32 years (as of February 2025)

Liezl Jayne Strydom is a food and lifestyle vlogger and a social media influencer. Her channel shares healthy recipes, healthy lifestyle tips, weight loss tips, weight loss meal plans, fitness tips, and workouts.

As of February 16, 2025, Liezl Jayne's channel has over a million subscribers and her estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $1,000 – $22,000 (R18,000 – R404,000).

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8. DJ Arch Jnr: $300 – $5,000

• Full name: Oratilwe AJ Hlongwane
• Born: May 3, 2012
• Age: 12 years (as of February 2025)

DJ Arch Jnr rocketed to fame at only three years old after videos of his mixes went viral on YouTube. He then dazzled the nation by winning South Africa's Got Talent competition in 2015.

DJ Arch Jnr's YouTube channel has over a million subscribers and his estimated annual YouTube earnings range between $300 – $5,000 (R5,500 – R91,0000).

You can use the Social Blade YouTube money calculator for South Africa to estimate how much money these freelancers make from their channels.

How much does YouTube pay in South Africa? The payment varies depending on several factors and the figures provided in this article are only estimates. Outside of YouTube's ad revenue-sharing program, creators may earn money through sponsorships, merchandise sales, and more.

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DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

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Source: Briefly News