Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa

South Africa: Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) was 12.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
12.4%
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
154th
of 154 countries
All-time high
19.7%
in 2008
All-time low
9.2%
in 2021
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa, 2000–2024

051015202000201220242000: 16.32001: 15.22002: 14.42003: 13.22004: 14.32005: 15.22006: 15.52007: 16.42008: 19.72009: 16.92010: 14.92011: 14.82012: 14.62013: 14.52014: 14.42015: 15.82016: 152017: 14.92018: 14.32019: 13.22020: 10.12021: 9.22022: 11.92023: 12.52024: 12.4

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa is 12.4%, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa peaked at 19.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2021.

South Africa ranks 154th of 154 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) (national estimate) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 16.3%
2001 15.2% -6.4%
2002 14.4% -5.2%
2003 13.2% -8.3%
2004 14.3% +8.3%
2005 15.2% +5.7%
2006 15.5% +2.4%
2007 16.4% +5.8%
2008 19.7% +19.7%
2009 16.9% -13.8%
2010 14.9% -11.9%
2011 14.8% -1.0%
2012 14.6% -1.4%
2013 14.5% -0.4%
2014 14.4% -0.8%
2015 15.8% +9.9%
2016 15.0% -4.9%
2017 14.9% -0.8%
2018 14.3% -3.8%
2019 13.2% -8.2%
2020 10.1% -23.2%
2021 9.2% -9.3%
2022 11.9% +29.5%
2023 12.5% +5.3%
2024 12.4% -0.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 12.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36.1%, 34% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 12.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.6%, 31% of the median. (27 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.7% 13.2% 19.7% 10
2010s 14.6% 13.2% 15.8% 10
2020s 11.2% 9.2% 12.5% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 151 Bulgaria 19.7% compare
  2. 152 Korea 19.3% compare
  3. 153 Tunisia 19.0% compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa?
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa was 12.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 2008.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%)?
South Africa ranks 154th out of 154 countries with data for 2024.
Is employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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, ages 15-24, male (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-to-population-ratio-ages-15-24-male-percent-national-estimate/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
175 places, 3,991 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.