Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) was 28.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa is 28.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa peaked at 33.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 14.4%, in 1991.
That places South Africa 161st out of 173 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25.5% | — |
| 1970 | 24.2% | -5.0% |
| 1980 | 19.1% | -21.2% |
| 1985 | 18.4% | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 14.4% | -21.5% |
| 1997 | 22.1% | +53.2% |
| 1998 | 25.6% | +15.8% |
| 1999 | 28.6% | +11.7% |
| 2000 | 31.9% | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 31.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 31.9% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 30.6% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 28.9% | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 30.2% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 30.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 30.8% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 33.7% | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 30.8% | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 28.7% | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 27.5% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 27.8% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 27.9% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 27.7% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 29.5% | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 29.3% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 29.2% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 22.7% | -19.4% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 28.3% | +20.1% |
| 2023 | 29.0% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 28.8% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 24.2% | 24.2% | 24.2% | 1 |
| 1980s | 18.7% | 18.4% | 19.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.7% | 14.4% | 28.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 31.1% | 28.9% | 33.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.4% | 27.5% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.5% | 22.7% | 29.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 158 Czechia 30.5% compare
- 159 San Marino 30.4% compare
- 160 Chad 28.9% compare
- 162 Romania 28.5% compare
- 163 Hong Kong, China 28.1% compare
- 164 Papua New Guinea 27.7% compare
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Africa was 28.8% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.4% in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%)?
- South Africa ranks 161st out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.