Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 37.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Africa stood at 37.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Africa peaked at 45.0% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 171st 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+, total (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 44.6% | — |
| 1992 | 44.4% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 44.4% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 44.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 44.9% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 45.0% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 44.9% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 44.6% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 44.3% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 44.2% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 44.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 43.9% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 43.7% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 43.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 43.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 43.5% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 43.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 43.3% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 41.3% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 39.4% | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 39.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 39.5% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 40.0% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 40.0% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 40.9% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 40.4% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 40.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 39.5% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 35.8% | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 34.3% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 35.7% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 37.4% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 37.6% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 37.6% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.6% | 44.3% | 45.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 43.5% | 41.3% | 44.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.0% | 39.3% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 34.3% | 37.6% | 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+, total (%) in South Africa?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Africa was 37.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.0% in 1996.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- South Africa ranks 171st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) 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 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+, total (%) (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.