Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 40.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Southern Africa, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Southern Africa is 40.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Southern Africa peaked at 40.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 36.3%, in 2020.
Southern Africa ranks 25th of 36 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 39.6% | — |
| 2005 | 39.3% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 38.4% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 38.2% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 38.0% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 38.4% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 37.2% | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 36.4% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 37.0% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 36.8% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 38.5% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 38.1% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 38.4% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 38.9% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 38.7% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 37.4% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 39.3% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 39.0% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 39.6% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 40.0% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.6% | 37.9% | 39.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 37.8% | 36.4% | 38.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.6% | 36.3% | 40.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More work & labour data for Southern Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 52,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1816 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1951 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1707 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9822 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9762 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,568 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 66,232 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 108,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 56,523 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Southern Africa?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Southern Africa was 40.0% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.3% in 2020.
- How does Southern Africa rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- Southern Africa ranks 25th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).