Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa
South Africa: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 55.57 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 55.57 for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa peaked at 55.79 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 34.7, in 1980.
That places South Africa 154th out of 210 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 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 | 54.29 | +13.8% |
| 1996 | 44 | -19.0% |
| 1997 | 42.6 | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 45.9 | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 49.9 | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 50.75 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 50.71 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 49.6 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 48.7 | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 46.98 | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 48.46 | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 48.78 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 48.96 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 55.79 | +13.9% |
| 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% |
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 | 35.95 | 34.7 | 37.2 | 2 |
| 1990s | 45.98 | 37.5 | 54.29 | 7 |
| 2000s | 50.27 | 46.98 | 55.79 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.84 | 52.17 | 55.36 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.33 | 50.55 | 55.57 | 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 labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa was 55.57 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.79 in 2008.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.7 in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- South Africa ranks 154th out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) 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 International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.