Labor force, total in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force, total was 26.73 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 26.73 million for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in South Africa peaked at 26.73 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.74 million, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 26th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 14.74 million | — |
| 1991 | 15.12 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 15.38 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 15.74 million | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 16.01 million | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 16.16 million | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 16.36 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 16.61 million | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 16.94 million | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 17.27 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 17.58 million | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 17.89 million | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 18.21 million | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 18.54 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 18.86 million | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 19.15 million | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 19.43 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 19.70 million | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 19.99 million | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 19.63 million | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 19.31 million | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 19.60 million | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 20.08 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 20.70 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 21.19 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 22.20 million | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 22.45 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 22.89 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 23.33 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 23.90 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 22.35 million | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 23.48 million | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 24.59 million | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 25.71 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 26.36 million | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 26.73 million | +1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 26.73 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 8.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 26.73 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 4.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.03 million | 14.74 million | 17.27 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.90 million | 17.58 million | 19.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.56 million | 19.31 million | 23.90 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.87 million | 22.35 million | 26.73 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in South Africa?
- Labor force, total in South Africa was 26.73 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.73 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.74 million in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force, total?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.