[ILO] Proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa
South Africa: [ILO] Proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash was 10.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
[ILO] Proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa, 2004–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa is 10.0%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 10.2% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa peaked at 14.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 64th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
[ILO] Proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 10.0% | — |
| 2005 | 11.0% | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | -11.0% |
| 2009 | 11.3% | +16.5% |
| 2010 | 14.5% | +28.3% |
| 2011 | 12.8% | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 10.6% | -17.2% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | +12.3% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | +18.5% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | -21.1% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | -10.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.9%, 72% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.6% | 9.7% | 11.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 10.6% | 14.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 10.0% | 14.1% | 3 |
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 [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa?
- [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash in South Africa was 10.0% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 85 countries with data for 2023.
- Is [ilo] proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of [ILO] Proportion of unemployed persons receiving unemployment cash benefit, by sex (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).