SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 31.32 in 2027. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Southern Africa, 2000–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Southern Africa stood at 31.32.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Southern Africa peaked at 32.61 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 21.93, in 2007.
That places Southern Africa 1st out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.24 | — |
| 2001 | 22.23 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 22.28 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 22.48 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 22.33 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 22.2 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 21.98 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 21.93 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 22.02 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 22.99 | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 24.05 | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 23.92 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 23.87 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 23.81 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 24.1 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 24.45 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 25.77 | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 26.2 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 26.06 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 27.5 | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 28.3 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 32.61 | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 31.92 | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 30.84 | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 31.02 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 31.14 | +0.4% |
| 2026 | 31.22 | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 31.32 | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.27 | 21.93 | 22.99 | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.97 | 23.81 | 27.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.05 | 28.3 | 32.61 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 1 South Africa 32.28 compare
- 2 Palestine, State of 28.71 compare
- 3 Botswana 24.43 compare
- 4 Guadeloupe 23.8 compare
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. — 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)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,568 1000 No (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Southern Africa?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Southern Africa was 31.32 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.61 in 2021.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.93 in 2007.
- How does Southern Africa rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
- Southern Africa ranks 1st out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.