Labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa

South Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), male was 57.2% in 2011. ▼ Falling

Latest (2011)
57.2%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
19th
of 52 countries
All-time high
65.0%
in 1990
All-time low
55.8%
in 2003
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa, 1990–2011

02040601990200020111990: 65 % of total labor force 15-64 years1991: 63.9 % of total labor force 15-64 years1992: 62.6 % of total labor force 15-64 years1993: 61.6 % of total labor force 15-64 years1994: 60.7 % of total labor force 15-64 years1995: 60 % of total labor force 15-64 years1996: 59.3 % of total labor force 15-64 years1997: 58.6 % of total labor force 15-64 years1998: 57.9 % of total labor force 15-64 years1999: 57.3 % of total labor force 15-64 years2000: 56.8 % of total labor force 15-64 years2001: 56.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years2002: 56.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years2003: 55.8 % of total labor force 15-64 years2004: 56.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years2005: 56.3 % of total labor force 15-64 years2006: 56.6 % of total labor force 15-64 years2007: 56.8 % of total labor force 15-64 years2008: 56.8 % of total labor force 15-64 years2009: 57 % of total labor force 15-64 years2010: 57.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2011: 57.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of total labor force 15-64 years.

Analysis

In 2011, labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa stood at 57.2%.

The figure is up 1.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa peaked at 65.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 55.8%, in 2003.

That places South Africa 19th out of 52 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

Labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor force (15-64 years), male (% of total labor force 15-64 years) in South Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of total labor force 15-64 years Change
1990 65.0%
1991 63.9% -1.6%
1992 62.6% -1.9%
1993 61.6% -1.6%
1994 60.7% -1.4%
1995 60.0% -1.3%
1996 59.3% -1.1%
1997 58.6% -1.1%
1998 57.9% -1.3%
1999 57.3% -1.0%
2000 56.8% -0.8%
2001 56.4% -0.8%
2002 56.1% -0.5%
2003 55.8% -0.5%
2004 56.1% +0.4%
2005 56.3% +0.4%
2006 56.6% +0.4%
2007 56.8% +0.4%
2008 56.8% -0.1%
2009 57.0% +0.5%
2010 57.2% +0.2%
2011 57.2% +0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 57.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59.2%, 97% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 57.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.7%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 60.7% 57.3% 65.0% 10
2000s 56.5% 55.8% 57.0% 10
2010s 57.2% 57.2% 57.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 16 Cape Verde 61.2% compare
  2. 17 Eswatini 60.8% compare
  3. 18 Nigeria 57.5% compare
  4. 20 Senegal 56.3% compare
  5. 21 Chad 55.2% compare
  6. 22 Equatorial Guinea 55.1% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa?
Labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa was 57.2% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor force (15-64 years), male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 65.0% in 1990.
What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 55.8% in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), male?
South Africa ranks 19th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
Is labor force (15-64 years), male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. 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, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Labor force (15-64 years), male (% of total labor force 15-64 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-15-64-years-male-percent-of-total-labor-force-15-64-years/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force (15-64 years), male (% of total labor force 15-64 years)
Unit
% of total labor force 15-64 years
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,276 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

The labor force comprising people ages 15 to 64 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.