Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 31.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa is 31.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa peaked at 32.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 19.5%, in 2007.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.7% | — |
| 1992 | 21.0% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 20.9% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 20.6% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 19.9% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 20.1% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 20.2% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 20.1% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 19.9% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 19.7% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 19.6% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 19.5% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 19.6% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 21.9% | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 22.8% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 22.5% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 22.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 23.1% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 23.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 24.5% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 25.2% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 25.1% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 26.8% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 27.7% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 32.1% | +15.8% |
| 2022 | 31.5% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 30.0% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 30.4% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 31.0% | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 31.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.7%, 5.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 31.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.3%, 5.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.4% | 19.9% | 21.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 19.5% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.9% | 22.5% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.4% | 27.7% | 32.1% | 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in South Africa was 31.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.5% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.