Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) was 46.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force with basic education in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force with basic education in South Africa is 46.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in South Africa peaked at 47.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 36.5%, in 2004.
South Africa ranks 69th of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total working-age population with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.2% | — |
| 2001 | 42.0% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 39.8% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 38.7% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 36.5% | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 38.2% | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 37.5% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 37.2% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 47.8% | +28.5% |
| 2009 | 46.0% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 44.4% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 44.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 44.8% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 45.2% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 46.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 47.3% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 47.5% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.5% | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 43.7% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 44.5% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 45.9% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 46.6% | +1.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 46.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.0%, 91% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 46.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 60.3%, 77% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +28.5% | 37.2% | 47.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.7% | 36.5% | 47.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.1% | 44.2% | 47.5% | 9 |
| 2020s | 44.7% | 42.5% | 46.6% | 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 with basic education in South Africa?
- Labor force with basic education in South Africa was 46.6% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.5% in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force with basic education?
- South Africa ranks 69th out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).