South Africa vs Spain: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- South Africa
- Spain
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 26.73 million against 24.76 million in Spain, a difference of 1.97 million.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Spain's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Spain ahead.
South Africa ranks 26th and Spain ranks 28th of 186 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and Spain in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Spain | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.03 million | 16.56 million | 529,580 | Spain |
| 2000s | 18.90 million | 20.79 million | 1.89 million | Spain |
| 2010s | 21.56 million | 23.27 million | 1.71 million | Spain |
| 2020s | 24.87 million | 23.93 million | 936,483 | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, South Africa or Spain?
- South Africa, at 26.73 million against 24.76 million in Spain as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between South Africa and Spain?
- 1.97 million, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Spain?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Spain rank globally for labor force, total?
- South Africa ranks 26th and Spain ranks 28th 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.