Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) was 37.48 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in South Africa, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates) in South Africa is 37.48, measured in 2027.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates) in South Africa peaked at 44.98 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 34.33, in 2021.
That places South Africa 172nd out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 44.61 | — |
| 1992 | 44.43 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 44.42 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 44.57 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 44.85 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 44.98 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 44.88 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 44.61 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 44.35 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 44.21 | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 44.09 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 43.94 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 43.69 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 43.59 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 43.52 | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 43.51 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 43.44 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 43.29 | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 41.26 | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 39.37 | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 39.32 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 39.52 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 40.04 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 40.04 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 40.86 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 40.2 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 40.39 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 40.32 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 39.53 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 35.78 | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 34.33 | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 35.7 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 37.36 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 37.63 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 37.58 | -0.1% |
| 2026 | 37.54 | -0.1% |
| 2027 | 37.48 | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.63 | 44.35 | 44.98 | 9 |
| 2000s | 43.45 | 41.26 | 44.21 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.96 | 39.32 | 40.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.67 | 34.33 | 37.63 | 8 |
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 (ilo modelled estimates) in South Africa?
- Employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates) in South Africa was 37.48 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44.98 in 1996.
- What is the lowest employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.33 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates)?
- South Africa ranks 172nd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is employment-to-population ratio (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employment-to-population ratio is the number of persons who are employed as a percent of the total of working-age population. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.