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

South Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), male was 12.40 million in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
12.40 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
6th
of 52 countries
All-time high
12.59 million
in 2008
All-time low
7.02 million
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M1990200020111990: 7.0M1991: 7.2M1992: 7.4M1993: 7.6M1994: 7.8M1995: 8.0M1996: 8.2M1997: 8.3M1998: 8.4M1999: 8.6M2000: 10.3M2001: 10.4M2002: 10.6M2003: 10.8M2004: 11.1M2005: 11.5M2006: 11.8M2007: 12.1M2008: 12.6M2009: 12.4M2010: 12.2M2011: 12.4M

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa is 12.40 million, measured in 2011.

The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), male in South Africa peaked at 12.59 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 7.02 million, in 1990.

South Africa ranks 6th of 52 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising 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 in South Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1990 7.02 million
1991 7.19 million +2.5%
1992 7.37 million +2.5%
1993 7.57 million +2.8%
1994 7.78 million +2.8%
1995 7.97 million +2.5%
1996 8.16 million +2.3%
1997 8.31 million +1.9%
1998 8.43 million +1.5%
1999 8.57 million +1.6%
2000 10.28 million +19.9%
2001 10.43 million +1.5%
2002 10.60 million +1.7%
2003 10.79 million +1.7%
2004 11.12 million +3.1%
2005 11.47 million +3.1%
2006 11.78 million +2.8%
2007 12.12 million +2.8%
2008 12.59 million +3.9%
2009 12.41 million -1.4%
2010 12.20 million -1.7%
2011 12.40 million +1.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.84 million 7.02 million 8.57 million 10
2000s 11.36 million 10.28 million 12.59 million 10
2010s 12.30 million 12.20 million 12.40 million 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 3 Egypt 24.21 million compare
  2. 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 14.73 million compare
  3. 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 12.73 million compare
  4. 7 Sudan 11.37 million compare
  5. 8 Algeria 11.12 million compare
  6. 9 Kenya 9.80 million 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 12.40 million 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 12.59 million in 2008.
What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.02 million in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), male?
South Africa ranks 6th 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 18.9%. 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 (15-64 years), male. 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 24 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-15-64-years-male/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force (15-64 years), male
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.