Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) was 43.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa stood at 43.0%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa peaked at 51.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 33.5%, in 1997.
That places South Africa 171st out of 174 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 48.4% | — |
| 1996 | 43.7% | -9.7% |
| 1997 | 33.5% | -23.3% |
| 1998 | 43.3% | +29.3% |
| 1999 | 45.0% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 44.6% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 44.1% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 43.0% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 42.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 42.9% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 44.2% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 44.8% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 45.7% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 51.7% | +13.2% |
| 2009 | 48.7% | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 46.7% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 46.4% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 46.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 46.6% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 47.7% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 47.0% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 46.9% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 46.7% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 45.7% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 41.5% | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 40.1% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 41.3% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 43.0% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 43.0% | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 43.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 66.7%, 64% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 43.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.2%, 62% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +29.3% | 33.5% | 43.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.8% | 33.5% | 48.4% | 5 |
| 2000s | 45.2% | 42.5% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.7% | 45.7% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.8% | 40.1% | 43.0% | 5 |
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 43.0% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.5% in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%)?
- South Africa ranks 171st out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national 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.