Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) was 42.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 42.6% for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa peaked at 57.8% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 40.2%, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 183rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.1% | — |
| 1992 | 56.1% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 55.8% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 56.0% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 57.1% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 57.8% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 57.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 57.2% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 56.4% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 55.9% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 55.2% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 54.6% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 53.8% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 53.3% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 52.9% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 52.6% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 52.2% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 51.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.9% | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 46.9% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 46.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 47.7% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 47.1% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 47.0% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 46.8% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 45.8% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 41.6% | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 40.2% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 41.4% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 43.0% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 43.0% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 42.6% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.7% | 55.8% | 57.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 53.1% | 48.9% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.8% | 45.8% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.0% | 40.2% | 43.0% | 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 to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa was 42.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 57.8% in 1997.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.2% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%)?
- South Africa ranks 183rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.