Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 56.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa stood at 56.5%.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa peaked at 61.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 38.4%, in 1997.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.4% | — |
| 1992 | 40.9% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 41.2% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 40.8% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 39.5% | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 38.7% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 38.4% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 38.9% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 39.2% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 39.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 39.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 39.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 39.7% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 39.7% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 39.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 39.7% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 39.9% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 40.4% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 44.0% | +8.8% |
| 2010 | 47.1% | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 45.6% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 47.1% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 47.6% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 47.8% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 46.2% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 48.5% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 49.2% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 53.3% | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 55.6% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 61.2% | +10.1% |
| 2022 | 58.1% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 56.9% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 57.0% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 56.5% | -0.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 56.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 3.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 56.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 6.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.8% | 38.4% | 41.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 40.1% | 39.2% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.1% | 45.6% | 53.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.5% | 55.6% | 61.2% | 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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa was 56.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 61.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.4% in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. 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 male (% of male 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.