Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 61.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 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+) in South Africa is 61.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa peaked at 72.2% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 159th 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 71.0% | — |
| 1991 | 70.8% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 71.0% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 70.5% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 70.6% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 71.6% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 72.2% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 72.2% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 71.5% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 70.7% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 69.9% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 69.0% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 68.1% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 67.2% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 66.4% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 65.8% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 65.3% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 64.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 64.6% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 62.5% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 60.7% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 60.1% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 60.5% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 60.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 60.9% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 62.1% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 62.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 62.8% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 62.5% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 62.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 57.5% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 59.2% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 60.4% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 61.5% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 61.8% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 61.7% | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 61.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.6%, 86% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 61.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.2% | 70.5% | 72.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.4% | 62.5% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.5% | 60.1% | 62.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.4% | 57.5% | 61.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 156 New Caledonia 62.0% compare
- 157 Ghana 61.8% compare
- 158 North Macedonia 61.8% compare
- 160 Romania 61.7% compare
- 161 Sudan 61.6% compare
- 162 Syrian Arab Republic 61.4% 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa was 61.7% 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+) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 72.2% in 1997.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- South Africa ranks 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.