Italy vs South Africa: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- Italy
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 26.73 million against 25.66 million in Italy, a difference of 1.07 million.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Italy ahead.
Italy ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 26th of 187 countries.
Italy has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Italy | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.25 million | 16.03 million | 7.22 million | Italy |
| 2000s | 24.20 million | 18.90 million | 5.30 million | Italy |
| 2010s | 25.33 million | 21.56 million | 3.76 million | Italy |
| 2020s | 25.43 million | 24.87 million | 562,467 | Italy |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, Italy or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 26.73 million against 25.66 million in Italy as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between Italy and South Africa?
- 1.07 million, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for labor force, total?
- Italy ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 26th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as Labor force, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.