Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 56.11 in 2027. ▬ Flat

Latest (2027)
56.11
Change on year
up 0.0%
Rank
68th
of 85 groups
All-time high
57.67
in 2000
All-time low
51.25
in 2020
Years of data
28
2000–2027

Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Southern Africa, 2000–2027

02040602000201320272000: 57.72001: 57.42002: 57.22003: 572004: 56.82005: 56.62006: 56.52007: 56.42008: 56.32009: 54.72010: 53.12011: 532012: 53.32013: 542014: 54.12015: 55.22016: 55.32017: 55.82018: 55.62019: 55.62020: 51.32021: 52.72022: 54.12023: 55.62024: 56.12025: 56.12026: 56.12027: 56.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Southern Africa is 56.11, measured in 2027.

The figure is up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Southern Africa peaked at 57.67 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 51.25, in 2020.

That places Southern Africa 68th out of 85 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Southern Africa, 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 57.67
2001 57.43 -0.4%
2002 57.18 -0.4%
2003 56.95 -0.4%
2004 56.75 -0.3%
2005 56.59 -0.3%
2006 56.47 -0.2%
2007 56.38 -0.2%
2008 56.32 -0.1%
2009 54.71 -2.9%
2010 53.1 -2.9%
2011 53.03 -0.1%
2012 53.34 +0.6%
2013 53.97 +1.2%
2014 54.12 +0.3%
2015 55.22 +2.0%
2016 55.3 +0.1%
2017 55.82 +0.9%
2018 55.58 -0.4%
2019 55.65 +0.1%
2020 51.25 -7.9%
2021 52.66 +2.8%
2022 54.11 +2.7%
2023 55.59 +2.7%
2024 56.09 +0.9%
2025 56.1 +0.0%
2026 56.11 +0.0%
2027 56.11 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 56.64 54.71 57.67 10
2010s 54.51 53.03 55.82 10
2020s 54.75 51.25 56.11 8

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 65 Dominican Republic 66.3 compare
  2. 66 Sierra Leone 66.24 compare
  3. 67 Ireland 66.14 compare
  4. 68 Lao People's Democratic Republic 66 compare
  5. 69 Georgia 65.73 compare
  6. 70 Azerbaijan 65.7 compare
  7. 71 Uruguay 65.55 compare

See the full ranking of 297 places →

More work & labour data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Southern Africa?
Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Southern Africa was 56.11 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 57.67 in 2000.
What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 51.25 in 2020.
How does Southern Africa rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Southern Africa ranks 68th out of 85 groups with data for 2027.
Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Southern 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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Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-force-participation-rate-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15-6/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
297 places, 7,586 data points, 1946–2027
Last refreshed

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.