Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 32.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa stood at 32.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa peaked at 34.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, 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, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 23.1% | — |
| 1992 | 23.5% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 23.1% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 22.7% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 22.5% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 22.5% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 22.7% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 22.9% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 22.8% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 22.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 22.6% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 22.7% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 22.6% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 22.5% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 22.3% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 22.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 22.4% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 23.5% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 24.7% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 24.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 24.6% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 24.9% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 25.1% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 26.5% | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 27.0% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 26.9% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 28.5% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 29.2% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 34.0% | +16.4% |
| 2022 | 33.3% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 32.1% | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 32.3% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 32.4% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.9% | 22.5% | 23.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 22.3% | 23.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.8% | 24.6% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.2% | 29.2% | 34.0% | 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, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Africa was 32.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 34.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. 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, total (% of total 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.