Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 55.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 55.6% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa peaked at 58.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 50.5%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 137th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.1% | — |
| 1991 | 58.0% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 58.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 58.0% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 57.9% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 58.0% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 58.0% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 58.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 57.7% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 57.5% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 57.3% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 57.0% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 56.7% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 56.5% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 56.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 56.1% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 56.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 55.9% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 55.8% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 54.0% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 52.3% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 52.2% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 52.5% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 53.1% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 53.3% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 54.6% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 54.7% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 55.4% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 55.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 55.3% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 50.5% | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 52.0% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 53.5% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 55.0% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 55.6% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 55.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.9% | 57.5% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.2% | 54.0% | 57.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.8% | 52.2% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.7% | 50.5% | 55.6% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa was 55.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 58.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.5% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- South Africa ranks 137th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. 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, total (% of total 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.