Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 59.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 59.9% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa peaked at 65.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 42.1%, 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 43.5% | — |
| 1992 | 44.1% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 44.3% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 43.9% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 42.8% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 42.1% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 42.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 42.6% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 43.1% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 43.2% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 43.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 43.4% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 43.8% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 43.9% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 43.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 43.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 44.0% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 44.6% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 47.5% | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 50.5% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 49.7% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 51.3% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 51.2% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 51.2% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 50.1% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 53.5% | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 53.4% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 53.6% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 57.3% | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 59.6% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 65.5% | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 61.7% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 60.3% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 60.2% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 59.9% | -0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 59.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 3.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 59.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 6.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.2% | 42.1% | 44.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 44.1% | 43.2% | 47.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.2% | 49.7% | 57.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.2% | 59.6% | 65.5% | 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa was 59.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 65.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. 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 total (% of total 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.