Cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa

South Africa: Cases of non-fatal occupational injury was 23,818 in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
23,818
Change on year
down 7.6%
World rank
38th
of 126 countries
All-time high
155,427
in 2016
All-time low
5,457
in 2000
Years of data
23
1985–2022

Cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa, 1985–2022

050.0k100.0k150.0k1985200320221985: 78.2k1986: 83.1k1987: 76.5k1988: 126.2k1989: 8.9k1990: 7.6k1991: 7.5k1992: 7.5k1993: 9.2k1994: 8.1k1995: 9.6k1996: 9.0k1997: 5.8k1998: 6.4k1999: 6.4k2000: 5.5k2009: 25.0k2010: 17.3k2016: 155.4k2019: 30.2k2020: 24.1k2021: 25.8k2022: 23.8k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 23,818 for cases of non-fatal occupational injury in 2022.

The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and up 37.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa peaked at 155,427 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5,457, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 38th of 126 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa, 1985 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1985 78,214
1986 83,053 +6.2%
1987 76,456 -7.9%
1988 126,201 +65.1%
1989 8,876 -93.0%
1990 7,609 -14.3%
1991 7,461 -1.9%
1992 7,540 +1.1%
1993 9,250 +22.7%
1994 8,057 -12.9%
1995 9,645 +19.7%
1996 8,972 -7.0%
1997 5,785 -35.5%
1998 6,447 +11.4%
1999 6,428 -0.3%
2000 5,457 -15.1%
2009 25,021 +358.5%
2010 17,268 -31.0%
2016 155,427 +800.1%
2019 30,154 -80.6%
2020 24,125 -20.0%
2021 25,766 +6.8%
2022 23,818 -7.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 74,560 8,876 126,201 5
1990s 7,719 5,785 9,645 10
2000s 15,239 5,457 25,021 2
2010s 67,616 17,268 155,427 3
2020s 24,570 23,818 25,766 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 35 Hungary 26,190 compare
  2. 36 Nicaragua 25,838 compare
  3. 37 New Zealand 24,993 compare
  4. 39 El Salvador 23,276 compare
  5. 40 Bosnia and Herzegovina 22,778 compare
  6. 41 Singapore 22,751 compare

See the full ranking of 126 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa?
Cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa was 23,818 in 2022, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest cases of non-fatal occupational injury recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 155,427 in 2016.
What is the lowest cases of non-fatal occupational injury recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5,457 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for cases of non-fatal occupational injury?
South Africa ranks 38th out of 126 countries with data for 2022.
Is cases of non-fatal occupational injury rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Cases of non-fatal occupational injury. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cases of non-fatal occupational injury in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/cases-of-non-fatal-occupational-injury/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cases of non-fatal occupational injury
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
126 places, 3,088 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

A case of non-fatal occupational injury is the case of a worker incurring an occupational injury as a result of an occupational accident not leading to death. The non-fatal occupational injury entails a loss of working time. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSH) database description.