Labor force participation rate in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate was 55.58 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
55.58
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
136th
of 186 countries
All-time high
58.09
in 1990
All-time low
50.55
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in South Africa is 55.58, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in South Africa peaked at 58.09 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 50.55, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 136th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.09 | — |
| 1991 | 58.03 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 58.05 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 57.95 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 57.94 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 58.02 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 58.04 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 57.95 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 57.74 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 57.51 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 57.26 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 57.01 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 56.75 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 56.5 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 56.3 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 56.13 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 55.99 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 55.88 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 55.79 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 53.96 | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 52.27 | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 52.17 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 52.51 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 53.08 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 53.31 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 54.59 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 54.71 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 55.36 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 55.16 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 55.27 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 50.55 | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 52.02 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 53.5 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 55.02 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 55.57 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 55.58 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 55.58 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.51, 92% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 55.58 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.31, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.93 | 57.51 | 58.09 | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.16 | 53.96 | 57.26 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.84 | 52.17 | 55.36 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.71 | 50.55 | 55.58 | 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 in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate in South Africa was 55.58 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 58.09 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.55 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate?
- South Africa ranks 136th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).