Labor force participation rate by age in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate by age was 26.76 in 2024. βΌ Falling
Latest (2024)
26.76
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
160th
of 188 countries
All-time high
42.8
in 1990
All-time low
20.89
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990β2024
Labor force participation rate by age in South Africa, 1990β2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 26.76 for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in South Africa peaked at 42.8 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 20.89, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 160th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.9 | 39.55 | 42.8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.23 | 28.09 | 38.22 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.9 | 25.29 | 26.68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.48 | 20.89 | 26.99 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. β Total Population - Male, per unit of GDP 0 1000 No per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate by age in South Africa was 26.76 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42.8 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.89 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- South Africa ranks 160th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).