Labor force (15-64 years), total in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), total was 21.69 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Labor force (15-64 years), total in South Africa, 1990–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
Analysis
In 2011, labor force (15-64 years), total in South Africa stood at 21.69 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), total in South Africa peaked at 22.19 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.80 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.97 million | 10.80 million | 14.96 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.11 million | 18.08 million | 22.19 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.52 million | 21.35 million | 21.69 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- 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)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 80.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force (15-64 years), total in South Africa?
- Labor force (15-64 years), total in South Africa was 21.69 million in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.19 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.80 million in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), total?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
- Is labor force (15-64 years), total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. 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), total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.