Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa
South Africa: Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels was 17,179 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa, 2001–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa is 17,179 Persons, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa peaked at 17,179 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11,812 Persons, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 18th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12,076 Persons | — |
| 2002 | 11,965 Persons | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 11,812 Persons | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 12,044 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 12,769 Persons | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 13,419 Persons | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 13,467 Persons | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 14,741 Persons | +9.5% |
| 2009 | 14,335 Persons | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 13,939 Persons | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 14,195 Persons | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 14,550 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 15,026 Persons | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 15,317 Persons | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 15,928 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 15,968 Persons | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 16,367 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 16,608 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 16,571 Persons | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 15,251 Persons | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 14,884 Persons | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 15,734 Persons | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 16,738 Persons | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 17,126 Persons | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 17,179 Persons | +0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17,179 Persons is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,827 Persons, 72% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12,959 Persons | 11,812 Persons | 14,741 Persons | 9 |
| 2010s | 15,447 Persons | 13,939 Persons | 16,608 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,152 Persons | 14,884 Persons | 17,179 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa?
- Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in South Africa was 17,179 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17,179 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,812 Persons in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels — Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains labour force data on labour market status - population, labour force, unemployment and employment - by sex and by detailed age groups and standard age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+, total). Information for all countries and all LFS subjects may be found in the attached file LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.