Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 64.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa is 64.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa peaked at 70.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 46.7%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 4th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 48.0% | — |
| 1992 | 48.6% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 48.4% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 47.3% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 46.7% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 46.9% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 47.6% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 48.2% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 48.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 48.7% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 49.3% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 49.4% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 49.4% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 49.3% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 49.4% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 49.9% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 51.9% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 54.7% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 54.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 56.7% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 55.7% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 55.5% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 55.2% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 59.8% | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 59.0% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 59.3% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 62.3% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 64.6% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 70.6% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 66.2% | -6.2% |
| 2023 | 64.3% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 64.1% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 64.1% | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 64.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.7%, 3.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 64.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5%, 6.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.9% | 46.7% | 48.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 49.4% | 48.4% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.3% | 54.7% | 62.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.6% | 64.1% | 70.6% | 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 unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa was 64.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 70.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.7% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.