Unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment with basic education, female was 42.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of female labor force with basic education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa is 42.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa peaked at 48.9% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 32.2%, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 129 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of female labor force with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 39.7% | — |
| 2001 | 41.6% | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 48.9% | +17.6% |
| 2003 | 46.9% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 43.1% | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 42.7% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 42.5% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 40.9% | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 33.1% | -19.1% |
| 2009 | 32.2% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 33.2% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 34.9% | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 33.9% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 35.4% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 35.0% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 37.0% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 37.2% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 35.9% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 38.5% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 38.4% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 43.6% | +13.4% |
| 2022 | 44.1% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 42.7% | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 42.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.2% | 32.2% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.7% | 33.2% | 38.5% | 9 |
| 2020s | 42.3% | 38.4% | 44.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Slovakia 47.1% compare
- 3 Kosovo 42.6% compare
- 3 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 42.6% compare
- 5 Montenegro 30.6% 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 unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa?
- Unemployment with basic education, female in South Africa was 42.8% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with basic education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.9% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment with basic education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.2% in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment with basic education, female?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment with basic education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education, female (% of female labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).