Share in informal employment in South Africa
South Africa: Share in informal employment was 34.9 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
34.9
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
41st
of 80 countries
All-time high
54.14
in 2000
All-time low
31.46
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Share in informal employment in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share in informal employment in South Africa is 34.9, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in informal employment in South Africa peaked at 54.14 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 31.46, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 41st of 80 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share in informal employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54.14 | — |
| 2001 | 52.18 | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 47.27 | -9.4% |
| 2003 | 46.62 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 46.24 | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 48.24 | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 49.1 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 48.86 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 35.48 | -27.4% |
| 2009 | 33.72 | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 34.06 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 32.78 | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 31.82 | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 32.27 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 32.13 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 34.36 | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 33.9 | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 34.27 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 34.88 | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 34.69 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 31.46 | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 32.47 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 34.55 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 34.01 | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 34.9 | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.19 | 33.72 | 54.14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.52 | 31.82 | 34.88 | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.48 | 31.46 | 34.9 | 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 in informal employment in South Africa?
- Share in informal employment in South Africa was 34.9 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share in informal employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.14 in 2000.
- What is the lowest share in informal employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.46 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share in informal employment?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 80 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share in informal employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).