Labor force, male in South Africa

South Africa: Labor force, male was 57.3% in 2011. ▼ Falling

Latest (2011)
57.3%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
18th
of 52 countries
All-time high
65.0%
in 1990
All-time low
55.9%
in 2003
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor force, male in South Africa, 1990–2011

02040601990200020111990: 65 % of total labor force1991: 64 % of total labor force1992: 62.7 % of total labor force1993: 61.7 % of total labor force1994: 60.8 % of total labor force1995: 60 % of total labor force1996: 59.4 % of total labor force1997: 58.7 % of total labor force1998: 58 % of total labor force1999: 57.4 % of total labor force2000: 56.9 % of total labor force2001: 56.4 % of total labor force2002: 56.2 % of total labor force2003: 55.9 % of total labor force2004: 56.1 % of total labor force2005: 56.3 % of total labor force2006: 56.6 % of total labor force2007: 56.8 % of total labor force2008: 56.7 % of total labor force2009: 56.9 % of total labor force2010: 57.2 % of total labor force2011: 57.3 % of total labor force

Source: International Labour Organization, using World Bank population estimates. Measured in % of total labor force.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force, male in South Africa is 57.3%, measured in 2011.

The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force, male in South Africa peaked at 65.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 55.9%, in 2003.

South Africa ranks 18th of 52 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Labor force, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor force, male (% of total labor force) in South Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of total labor force Change
1990 65.0%
1991 64.0% -1.6%
1992 62.7% -2.1%
1993 61.7% -1.6%
1994 60.8% -1.4%
1995 60.0% -1.4%
1996 59.4% -1.0%
1997 58.7% -1.2%
1998 58.0% -1.2%
1999 57.4% -1.1%
2000 56.9% -0.8%
2001 56.4% -0.9%
2002 56.2% -0.4%
2003 55.9% -0.5%
2004 56.1% +0.4%
2005 56.3% +0.2%
2006 56.6% +0.5%
2007 56.8% +0.4%
2008 56.7% -0.1%
2009 56.9% +0.4%
2010 57.2% +0.5%
2011 57.3% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 60.8% 57.4% 65.0% 10
2000s 56.5% 55.9% 56.9% 10
2010s 57.3% 57.2% 57.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 15 Mauritius 62.2% compare
  2. 16 Cape Verde 61.5% compare
  3. 17 Eswatini 60.5% compare
  4. 19 Nigeria 57.2% compare
  5. 20 Senegal 56.1% compare
  6. 21 Equatorial Guinea 55.3% 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, male in South Africa?
Labor force, male in South Africa was 57.3% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, using World Bank population estimates.
What is the highest labor force, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 65.0% in 1990.
What is the lowest labor force, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 55.9% in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for labor force, male?
South Africa ranks 18th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
Is labor force, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. 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, using World Bank population estimates, published as part of Labor force, male (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, using World Bank population estimates. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-male-percent-of-total-labor-force/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force, male (% of total labor force)
Unit
% of total labor force
Source
International Labour Organization, using World Bank population estimates
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,276 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

Male labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which men are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.