South Africa vs Southern Africa: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates)

South Africa
32.59
in 2027
Southern Africa
31.32
in 2027
South Africa rank
2nd
Southern Africa rank
1st

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) over time

  • South Africa
  • Southern Africa
0102030199120092027

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 32.59 against 31.32 in Southern Africa, a difference of 1.27.

Across all 37 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 2nd and Southern Africa ranks 1st of 188 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Southern Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 22.93 22.44 0.4932 South Africa
2000s 22.62 22.27 0.3544 South Africa
2010s 25.76 24.97 0.7871 South Africa
2020s 32.29 31.05 1.24 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates), South Africa or Southern Africa?
South Africa, at 32.59 against 31.32 in Southern Africa as of 2027.
What is the difference in unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) between South Africa and Southern Africa?
1.27, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Southern Africa?
37 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2027.
How do South Africa and Southern Africa rank globally for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
South Africa ranks 2nd and Southern Africa ranks 1st of 188 countries.
Where does this data come from?
International Labour Organization, published as Unemployment rate (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 Southern Africa: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/south-africa/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
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. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.