Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with was 85.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
85.6%
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
54th
of 113 countries
All-time high
89.3%
in 2021
All-time low
66.7%
in 2011
Years of data
5
2011–2024

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa, 2011–2024

0204060802011201720242011: 66.72014: 78.82017: 74.92021: 89.32024: 85.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 85.6% for proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa peaked at 89.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 66.7%, in 2011.

South Africa ranks 54th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with an account at a financial institution or mobile-money-service provider (% of adults aged 15 years and older) in South Africa, 2011 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2011 66.7%
2014 78.8% +18.1%
2017 74.9% -4.9%
2021 89.3% +19.2%
2024 85.6% -4.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 73.5% 66.7% 78.8% 3
2020s 87.5% 85.6% 89.3% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 51 Argentina 87.2% compare
  2. 52 Ghana 86.9% compare
  3. 53 Sri Lanka 86.1% compare
  4. 55 Romania 85.1% compare
  5. 56 Russian Federation 84.6% compare
  6. 56 Russian Federation 84.6% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa?
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa was 85.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 89.3% in 2021.
What is the lowest proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 66.7% in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with?
South Africa ranks 54th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with an account at a financial institution or mobile-money-service provider (% of adults aged 15 years and older). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-adults-15-years-and-older-active-in-labor-force-with-an-account-at-a/south-africa/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-adults-15-years-and-older-active-in-labor-force-with-an-account-at-a/south-africa/">Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with an account at a financial institution or mobile-money-service provider (% of adults aged 15 years and older)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
151 places, 755 data points, 2011–2024
Last refreshed