Share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa
South Africa: Share of young people not in education, employment or training was 34.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa is 34.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa peaked at 36.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 30.5%, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 7th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.8% | — |
| 2001 | 34.6% | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 35.7% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 36.6% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 35.4% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 34.4% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 33.4% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 32.6% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 35.9% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 32.0% | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 31.3% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 30.5% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 31.2% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 31.0% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 31.6% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 32.5% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 32.4% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 32.9% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 35.2% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 34.0% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 34.6% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34.3% | 31.8% | 36.6% | 8 |
| 2010s | 32.0% | 30.5% | 35.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 33.8% | 32.4% | 35.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.82 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa?
- Share of young people not in education, employment or training in South Africa was 34.6% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of young people not in education, employment or training recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of young people not in education, employment or training recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.5% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for share of young people not in education, employment or training?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of young people not in education, employment or training rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of young people not in education, employment or training. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of people aged 15–24 who are not in education (formal education or short courses), employment (worked in paid work or self-employment), or training (non-academic skill-building activities). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.