Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 65.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa is 65.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa peaked at 75.9% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 61.0%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 163rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 74.0% | — |
| 1991 | 73.8% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 74.0% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 73.5% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 73.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 74.9% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 75.7% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 75.9% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 75.1% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 74.3% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 73.4% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 72.4% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 71.4% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 70.5% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 69.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 69.1% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 68.6% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 68.1% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 67.8% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 65.8% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 63.8% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 63.2% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 63.7% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 63.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 64.0% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 65.3% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 66.2% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 66.0% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 66.2% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 61.0% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 62.9% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 64.3% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 65.5% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 65.9% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 65.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 78.6%, 84% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 65.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 71.5%, 92% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.5% | 73.5% | 75.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.7% | 65.8% | 73.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.8% | 63.2% | 66.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.2% | 61.0% | 65.9% | 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in South Africa was 65.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 75.9% in 1997.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.0% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- South Africa ranks 163rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.