South Korea vs South Africa: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- South Korea
- South Africa
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 29.87 million against 26.73 million in South Africa, a difference of 3.13 million.
That makes South Korea's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, South Korea has been ahead every year.
South Korea ranks 23rd and South Africa ranks 26th of 186 countries.
South Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Korea | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.85 million | 16.03 million | 4.82 million | South Korea |
| 2000s | 23.80 million | 18.90 million | 4.90 million | South Korea |
| 2010s | 27.02 million | 21.56 million | 5.46 million | South Korea |
| 2020s | 29.24 million | 24.87 million | 4.37 million | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, South Korea or South Africa?
- South Korea, at 29.87 million against 26.73 million in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between South Korea and South Africa?
- 3.13 million, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and South Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do South Korea and South Africa rank globally for labor force, total?
- South Korea ranks 23rd and South Africa ranks 26th of 186 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.