Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) was 10.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa stood at 10.8%.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa peaked at 24.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 184th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24.0% | — |
| 1992 | 23.8% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 23.5% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 24.3% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 24.6% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 24.3% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 23.4% | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 22.5% | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 21.7% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 20.9% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 20.1% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 18.2% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 17.5% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 17.0% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 14.8% | -13.4% |
| 2010 | 13.0% | -12.1% |
| 2011 | 12.8% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 12.4% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 12.6% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 12.3% | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 12.4% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 11.0% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | -23.1% |
| 2021 | 7.6% | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 9.9% | +30.1% |
| 2023 | 10.7% | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 10.6% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 10.8% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.8% | 22.5% | 24.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.6% | 14.8% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.0% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 7.6% | 10.8% | 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, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa?
- Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa was 10.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 24.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%)?
- South Africa ranks 184th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. 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, ages 15-24, 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.