Share in vulnerable employment in South Africa
South Africa: Share in vulnerable employment was 11.66 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
11.66
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
142nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
11.91
in 1992
All-time low
8.83
in 2014
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Share in vulnerable employment in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 11.66 for share in vulnerable employment in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in vulnerable employment in South Africa peaked at 11.91 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.83, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 142nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share in vulnerable employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.87 | — |
| 1992 | 11.91 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 11.91 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 11.85 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 11.76 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 11.6 | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 11.44 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 11.27 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 11.06 | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 10.85 | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 11.18 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 11.08 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 10.93 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 10.69 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 11.49 | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 11.41 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 10.4 | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 10.2 | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 10.09 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 10.15 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 10.14 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 10.09 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 9.53 | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 8.83 | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 9.43 | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 9.59 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 9.92 | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 10.32 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 10.67 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 10.68 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 11.04 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 11.26 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 10.91 | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 11.7 | +7.2% |
| 2025 | 11.66 | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.66 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.81, 39% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 11.66 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.56, 17% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.63 | 11.06 | 11.91 | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.83 | 10.09 | 11.49 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.87 | 8.83 | 10.67 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.21 | 10.68 | 11.7 | 6 |
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 vulnerable employment in South Africa?
- Share in vulnerable employment in South Africa was 11.66 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share in vulnerable employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.91 in 1992.
- What is the lowest share in vulnerable employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.83 in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share in vulnerable employment?
- South Africa ranks 142nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share in vulnerable employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. 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 vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).