IDA only vs South Africa: Employment in services (% of total employment)
Employment in services (% of total employment) over time
- IDA only
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 73.8% against 34.6% in IDA only, a difference of 39.2%.
That makes South Africa's figure about 2.1 times IDA only's.
Across all 35 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
IDA only ranks 42nd and South Africa ranks 43rd of 47 groups.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | IDA only | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.9% | 66.3% | 43.4% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 26.4% | 67.3% | 40.8% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 32.0% | 71.4% | 39.4% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 34.0% | 73.6% | 39.7% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher employment in services (% of total employment), IDA only or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 73.8% against 34.6% in IDA only as of 2025.
- What is the difference in employment in services (% of total employment) between IDA only and South Africa?
- 39.2%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for IDA only and South Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do IDA only and South Africa rank globally for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- IDA only ranks 42nd and South Africa ranks 43rd of 47 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Employment in services (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).