Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 26.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa stood at 26.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa peaked at 42.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 20.9%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 157th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 42.8% | — |
| 1991 | 42.5% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 42.5% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 42.0% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 41.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 42.4% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 42.5% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 42.0% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 40.8% | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 39.5% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 38.2% | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 36.9% | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 35.5% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 34.3% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 33.2% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 32.4% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 31.8% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 31.2% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 30.8% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 28.1% | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 26.2% | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 25.5% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 25.4% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 25.8% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 26.4% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 26.7% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 25.4% | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 25.7% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 20.9% | -18.7% |
| 2021 | 22.0% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 25.8% | +17.3% |
| 2023 | 27.0% | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 26.8% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 26.8% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.9% | 39.5% | 42.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.2% | 28.1% | 38.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.9% | 25.3% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.9% | 20.9% | 27.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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, total (%) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Africa was 26.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.9% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- South Africa ranks 157th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO 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.