Labor force (15-24 years), total in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force (15-24 years), total was 2.67 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Labor force (15-24 years), total in South Africa, 1990–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.67 million for labor force (15-24 years), total in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force (15-24 years), total in South Africa peaked at 3.13 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.23 million, in 1990.
That places South Africa 11th out of 52 groups with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.44 million | 2.23 million | 2.59 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.85 million | 2.62 million | 3.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.67 million | 2.67 million | 2.67 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 8 Mozambique 3.11 million compare
- 9 Madagascar 3.10 million compare
- 10 Sudan 3.09 million compare
- 12 Burkina Faso 2.61 million compare
- 13 Zimbabwe 2.50 million compare
- 14 Morocco 2.23 million compare
More work & labour data for South Africa
- 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)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force (15-24 years), total in South Africa?
- Labor force (15-24 years), total in South Africa was 2.67 million in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest labor force (15-24 years), total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.13 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force (15-24 years), total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.23 million in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force (15-24 years), total?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 52 groups with data for 2011.
- Is labor force (15-24 years), total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Labor force (15-24 years), total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total labor force comprises people ages 15-24 who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector.