GDP per person employed in South Africa

South Africa: GDP per person employed was 2.0% in 2010. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2010)
2.0%
Change on year
up 174.1%
World rank
16th
of 25 countries
All-time high
3.4%
in 2006
All-time low
-6.0%
in 1992
Years of data
30
1981–2010

GDP per person employed in South Africa, 1981–2010

-6-4-20241981199520101981: 2.2 annual % growth1982: -3.6 annual % growth1983: -5.3 annual % growth1984: 1.8 annual % growth1985: -4.5 annual % growth1986: -3.3 annual % growth1987: -1.1 annual % growth1988: 0.964 annual % growth1989: -1.2 annual % growth1990: -4.2 annual % growth1991: -4.7 annual % growth1992: -6 annual % growth1993: -2.9 annual % growth1994: -0.721 annual % growth1995: -0.792 annual % growth1996: 0.584 annual % growth1997: -1 annual % growth1998: -3.3 annual % growth1999: -1.5 annual % growth2000: 0.356 annual % growth2001: -0.528 annual % growth2002: 1.5 annual % growth2003: 0.548 annual % growth2004: 2.8 annual % growth2005: 3.1 annual % growth2006: 3.4 annual % growth2007: 3.2 annual % growth2008: -0.535 annual % growth2009: -2.7 annual % growth2010: 2 annual % growth

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in annual % growth.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 2.0% for gdp per person employed in 2010.

That represents a change of up 174.1% on the previous year and up 470.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gdp per person employed in South Africa peaked at 3.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -6.0%, in 1992.

That places South Africa 16th out of 25 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

GDP per person employed in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for GDP per person employed (annual % growth) in South Africa, 1981 to 2010.
Year annual % growth Change
1981 2.2%
1982 -3.6% -262.3%
1983 -5.3% +45.9%
1984 1.8% -133.4%
1985 -4.5% -357.0%
1986 -3.3% -27.5%
1987 -1.1% -66.3%
1988 1.0% -187.1%
1989 -1.2% -221.2%
1990 -4.2% +260.8%
1991 -4.7% +10.4%
1992 -6.0% +29.7%
1993 -2.9% -52.8%
1994 -0.7% -74.7%
1995 -0.8% +9.8%
1996 0.6% -173.8%
1997 -1.0% -275.0%
1998 -3.3% +220.1%
1999 -1.5% -53.3%
2000 0.4% -123.3%
2001 -0.5% -248.3%
2002 1.5% -380.2%
2003 0.5% -62.9%
2004 2.8% +405.0%
2005 3.1% +13.5%
2006 3.4% +8.7%
2007 3.2% -5.1%
2008 -0.5% -116.5%
2009 -2.7% +412.6%
2010 2.0% -174.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s -1.6% -5.3% 2.2% 9
1990s -2.5% -6.0% 0.6% 10
2000s 1.1% -2.7% 3.4% 10
2010s 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 13 Sudan 2.2% compare
  2. 14 Mali 2.2% compare
  3. 15 Tunisia 2.1% compare
  4. 17 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.6% compare
  5. 18 Algeria 1.5% compare
  6. 19 Kenya 1.4% compare

See the full ranking of 31 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is gdp per person employed in South Africa?
Gdp per person employed in South Africa was 2.0% in 2010, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest gdp per person employed recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2006.
What is the lowest gdp per person employed recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -6.0% in 1992.
How does South Africa rank for gdp per person employed?
South Africa ranks 16th out of 25 countries with data for 2010.
Is gdp per person employed rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 470.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of GDP per person employed (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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GDP per person employed in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/gdp-per-person-employed-annual-percent-growth/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
GDP per person employed (annual % growth)
Unit
annual % growth
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
31 places, 864 data points, 1981–2010
Last refreshed

GDP per person employed is gross domestic product (GDP) divided by total employment in the economy.