Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 31.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Southern Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Southern Africa is 31.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Southern Africa peaked at 32.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2007.
Southern Africa ranks 1st of 39 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.2% | — |
| 2001 | 22.2% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 22.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 22.5% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 22.3% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 22.0% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 21.9% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 22.0% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 23.0% | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 24.1% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 23.9% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 23.9% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 23.8% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 24.1% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 25.8% | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 26.1% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 27.5% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 28.3% | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 31.9% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 30.8% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 31.0% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 31.1% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.3% | 21.9% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.0% | 23.8% | 27.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.0% | 28.3% | 32.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 1 South Africa 32.3% compare
- 2 State of Palestine 31.4% compare
- 3 Botswana 24.4% 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. — Rural population 19,568 1000 No (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Southern Africa?
- Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Southern Africa was 31.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2007.
- How does Southern Africa rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
- Southern Africa ranks 1st out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).