Share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa
South Africa: Share of male workers in informal employment was 35.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa stood at 35.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa peaked at 50.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 29.7%, in 2014.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50.8% | — |
| 2001 | 48.5% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 45.3% | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 44.2% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 44.4% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 45.8% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 47.1% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 47.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 32.3% | -32.2% |
| 2009 | 30.4% | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 31.5% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 30.4% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 29.7% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 29.8% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 29.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 32.6% | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 32.4% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 33.2% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 30.7% | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 31.8% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 34.5% | +8.5% |
| 2023 | 34.3% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 35.0% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.6% | 30.4% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.5% | 29.7% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.3% | 30.7% | 35.0% | 5 |
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 share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa?
- Share of male workers in informal employment in South Africa was 35.0% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male workers in informal employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of male workers in informal employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.7% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share of male workers in informal employment?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of male workers in informal employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed males working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.