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 60.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa stood at 60.1%.
The figure is up 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa peaked at 65.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 45.6%, in 2008.
That places South Africa 1st out of 160 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 53.5% | — |
| 2001 | 56.0% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 59.9% | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 61.3% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 56.7% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 56.3% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 54.6% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 52.5% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 45.6% | -13.2% |
| 2009 | 48.3% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 51.2% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 50.3% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 51.7% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 51.4% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 51.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 50.1% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 53.3% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 53.2% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 53.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 57.1% | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 59.4% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 65.2% | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 61.5% | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 60.1% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 60.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 3.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 60.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.4%, 5.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.5% | 45.6% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.3% | 50.1% | 57.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.2% | 59.4% | 65.2% | 5 |
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 60.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 65.2% 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 45.6% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
- 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 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.