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 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 61.7% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa peaked at 64.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 45.5%, in 1991.
South Africa ranks 166th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 54.7% | — |
| 1970 | 50.9% | -6.9% |
| 1980 | 46.2% | -9.2% |
| 1985 | 47.9% | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 45.5% | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 58.4% | +28.4% |
| 1996 | 52.9% | -9.4% |
| 1997 | 52.5% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 55.7% | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 57.7% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 59.7% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 59.9% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 59.1% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 58.3% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 56.7% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 57.9% | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 57.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 64.4% | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 62.4% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 60.6% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 59.9% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 60.4% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 60.5% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 60.8% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 62.0% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 62.3% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 62.7% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 62.3% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 62.5% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 57.4% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 59.1% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 60.3% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 61.4% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 61.7% | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 61.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.3%, 87% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 61.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.2%, 88% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +28.4% | 45.5% | 58.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 54.7% | 54.7% | 54.7% | 1 |
| 1970s | 50.9% | 50.9% | 50.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 47.0% | 46.2% | 47.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 53.8% | 45.5% | 58.4% | 6 |
| 2000s | 59.4% | 56.7% | 64.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.4% | 59.9% | 62.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.0% | 57.4% | 61.7% | 5 |
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+) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Africa was 61.7% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 64.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.5% in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- South Africa ranks 166th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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.