Labor participation rate, male in South Africa

South Africa: Labor participation rate, male was 83.4% in 2010. ▬ Flat

Latest (2010)
83.4%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
51st
of 52 countries
All-time high
86.5%
in 1990
All-time low
82.0%
in 2003
Years of data
21
1990–2010

Labor participation rate, male in South Africa, 1990–2010

0204060801990200020101990: 86.5 % of male population ages 35-541991: 86 % of male population ages 35-541992: 85.4 % of male population ages 35-541993: 84.9 % of male population ages 35-541994: 84.6 % of male population ages 35-541995: 84.2 % of male population ages 35-541996: 84 % of male population ages 35-541997: 83.7 % of male population ages 35-541998: 83.2 % of male population ages 35-541999: 82.9 % of male population ages 35-542000: 82.6 % of male population ages 35-542001: 82.4 % of male population ages 35-542002: 82.2 % of male population ages 35-542003: 82 % of male population ages 35-542004: 82.4 % of male population ages 35-542005: 82.9 % of male population ages 35-542006: 83.3 % of male population ages 35-542007: 83.8 % of male population ages 35-542008: 85.8 % of male population ages 35-542009: 84.5 % of male population ages 35-542010: 83.4 % of male population ages 35-54

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of male population ages 35-54.

Analysis

In 2010, labor participation rate, male in South Africa stood at 83.4%.

That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, male in South Africa peaked at 86.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 82.0%, in 2003.

South Africa ranks 51st of 52 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Labor participation rate, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 35-54) in South Africa, 1990 to 2010.
Year % of male population ages 35-54 Change
1990 86.5%
1991 86.0% -0.6%
1992 85.4% -0.7%
1993 84.9% -0.6%
1994 84.6% -0.4%
1995 84.2% -0.5%
1996 84.0% -0.2%
1997 83.7% -0.4%
1998 83.2% -0.6%
1999 82.9% -0.4%
2000 82.6% -0.4%
2001 82.4% -0.2%
2002 82.2% -0.2%
2003 82.0% -0.2%
2004 82.4% +0.5%
2005 82.9% +0.6%
2006 83.3% +0.5%
2007 83.8% +0.6%
2008 85.8% +2.4%
2009 84.5% -1.5%
2010 83.4% -1.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 83.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 94.0%, 89% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 83.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 95.7%, 87% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 84.5% 82.9% 86.5% 10
2000s 83.2% 82.0% 85.8% 10
2010s 83.4% 83.4% 83.4% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 48 Liberia 87.7% compare
  2. 49 Mali 87.0% compare
  3. 50 Djibouti 84.6% compare
  4. 52 Nigeria 81.8% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor participation rate, male in South Africa?
Labor participation rate, male in South Africa was 83.4% in 2010, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 86.5% in 1990.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 82.0% in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for labor participation rate, male?
South Africa ranks 51st out of 52 countries with data for 2010.
Is labor participation rate, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 35-54). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor participation rate, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-35-54/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 35-54)
Unit
% of male population ages 35-54
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,218 data points, 1990–2010
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 35-54 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. The participation rates are harmonized to account for differences in national data collection and tabulation methodologies as well as for other country-specific factors such as military service requirements. The series includes both nationally reported and imputed data and only estimates that are national, meaning there are no geographic limitations in coverage.