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 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa stood at 55.6%.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Africa peaked at 55.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 34.7%, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 146th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 35.8% | — |
| 1970 | 37.3% | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 34.7% | -7.0% |
| 1985 | 37.2% | +7.2% |
| 1991 | 37.5% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 47.7% | +27.2% |
| 1995 | 54.3% | +13.8% |
| 1996 | 44.0% | -19.0% |
| 1997 | 42.6% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 45.9% | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 49.9% | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 50.8% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 50.7% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 48.7% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 47.0% | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 48.5% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 48.8% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 49.0% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 55.8% | +13.9% |
| 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% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35.8% | 35.8% | 35.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 37.3% | 37.3% | 37.3% | 1 |
| 1980s | 36.0% | 34.7% | 37.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 46.0% | 37.5% | 54.3% | 7 |
| 2000s | 50.3% | 47.0% | 55.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.8% | 52.2% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.3% | 50.5% | 55.6% | 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, 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 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 55.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.7% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- South Africa ranks 146th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- 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 4.2%. 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, total (% of total 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.