South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment

South Africa
35.85
in 2027
Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income
34.22
in 2027
South Africa rank
3rd
Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income rank
2nd

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment over time

  • South Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income
010203040200520162027

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 35.85 against 34.22 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income, a difference of 1.63.

Across all 23 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 2nd of 188 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income Difference Ahead
2000s 26.81 25.96 0.8508 South Africa
2010s 29.43 28.31 1.12 South Africa
2020s 35.93 34.25 1.67 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
South Africa, at 35.85 against 34.22 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income as of 2027.
What is the difference in lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
1.63, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
23 years are reported by both, from 2005 to 2027.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income rank globally for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
South Africa ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 2nd of 188 countries.
Where does this data come from?
International Labour Organization, published as LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/lu2-combined-rate-of-time-related-underemployment-and-unemployment-ilo-modelled-estimates/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa-upper-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 6,324 data points, 2005–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.