Population by labor force status in South Africa
South Africa: Population by labor force status was 16.66 million people in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
16.66 million people
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
26th
of 186 countries
All-time high
17.01 million people
in 1997
All-time low
15.27 million people
in 2007
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by labor force status in South Africa is 16.66 million people, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in South Africa peaked at 17.01 million people in 1997 and was at its lowest, 15.27 million people, in 2007.
South Africa ranks 26th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Population by labor force status in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.64 million people | — |
| 1992 | 15.94 million people | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 16.13 million people | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 16.37 million people | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 16.70 million people | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 16.94 million people | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 17.01 million people | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 16.89 million people | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 16.70 million people | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 16.46 million people | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 16.19 million people | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 15.92 million people | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 15.68 million people | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 15.50 million people | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 15.38 million people | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 15.31 million people | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 15.27 million people | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 15.29 million people | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 15.35 million people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 15.39 million people | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 15.43 million people | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 15.54 million people | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 15.69 million people | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 15.85 million people | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 16.06 million people | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 16.22 million people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 16.29 million people | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 16.33 million people | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 16.34 million people | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 16.35 million people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 16.37 million people | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 16.42 million people | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 16.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 16.57 million people | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 16.66 million people | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 16.66 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.99 million people, 8.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 16.66 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.33 million people, 2.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.48 million people | 15.64 million people | 17.01 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.63 million people | 15.27 million people | 16.46 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.91 million people | 15.39 million people | 16.34 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.47 million people | 16.35 million people | 16.66 million people | 6 |
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 population by labor force status in South Africa?
- Population by labor force status in South Africa was 16.66 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.01 million people in 1997.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.27 million people in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for population by labor force status?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).