Employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people was 9.47 persons per 1,000 people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
9.47 persons per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 38.3%
World rank
71st
of 78 countries
All-time high
10.39 persons per 1,000 people
in 2019
All-time low
6.29 persons per 1,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
15
2008–2022
Employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in South Africa, 2008–2022
Source: UN Tourism (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in persons per 1,000 people.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 9.47 persons per 1,000 people for employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in 2022.
That represents a change of up 38.3% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in South Africa peaked at 10.39 persons per 1,000 people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.29 persons per 1,000 people, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 71st of 78 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in South Africa, year by year
| Year | persons per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 10.07 persons per 1,000 people | — |
| 2009 | 9.41 persons per 1,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 9.53 persons per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 9.74 persons per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 9.88 persons per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 9.69 persons per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 9.9 persons per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 9.26 persons per 1,000 people | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 9 persons per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 8.22 persons per 1,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 8.62 persons per 1,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 10.39 persons per 1,000 people | +20.6% |
| 2020 | 6.29 persons per 1,000 people | -39.4% |
| 2021 | 6.85 persons per 1,000 people | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 9.47 persons per 1,000 people | +38.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.47 persons per 1,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.53 persons per 1,000 people, 31% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.47 persons per 1,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1 persons per 1,000 people, 78% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.74 persons per 1,000 people | 9.41 persons per 1,000 people | 10.07 persons per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.42 persons per 1,000 people | 8.22 persons per 1,000 people | 10.39 persons per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.54 persons per 1,000 people | 6.29 persons per 1,000 people | 9.47 persons per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 68 Czechia 14.49 persons per 1,000 people compare
- 69 Argentina 12.43 persons per 1,000 people compare
- 70 Republic of Moldova 9.78 persons per 1,000 people compare
- 72 Algeria 7.39 persons per 1,000 people compare
- 73 Micronesia, Federated States of 7.22 persons per 1,000 people compare
- 74 Uzbekistan 6.89 persons per 1,000 people compare
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 employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in South Africa?
- Employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in South Africa was 9.47 persons per 1,000 people in 2022, according to UN Tourism (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.39 persons per 1,000 people in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.29 persons per 1,000 people in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people?
- South Africa ranks 71st out of 78 countries with data for 2022.
- Is employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people working in tourism-related industries per 1,000 people in the country's population.