Share of workers who are employees vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Share of workers who are employees vs. GDP per capita was 83.0% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Share of workers who are employees vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 2014–2021
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 83.0%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
South Africa ranks 51st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of workers who are employees vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 85.9% | — |
| 2016 | 84.9% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 84.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 84.4% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 83.0% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 84.9% | 84.4% | 85.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 North Macedonia 83.2% compare
- 49 Netherlands 83.2% compare
- 50 Switzerland 83.2% compare
- 52 New Caledonia 83.0% compare
- 53 Bahamas 82.9% compare
- 54 Montenegro 82.2% compare
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 workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Share of workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 83.0% in 2021, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 85.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.0% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for share of workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 186 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of workers who are employees vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers who are employees vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.