South Africa
ZA desk: South Africa first; United States, United Kingdom, euro area, Australia and New Zealand alongside.
+0.01 pp
As of 2025 | % of population ages 15+
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 55.58% |
| 2024 | 55.57% |
| 2023 | 55.02% |
| 2022 | 53.50% |
| 2021 | 52.02% |
| 2020 | 50.55% |
| 2019 | 55.27% |
| 2018 | 55.16% |
| 2017 | 55.36% |
| 2016 | 54.71% |
| 2015 | 54.59% |
| 2014 | 53.31% |
| 2013 | 53.08% |
| 2012 | 52.51% |
| 2011 | 52.17% |
| 2010 | 52.27% |
| 2009 | 53.96% |
| 2008 | 55.79% |
| 2007 | 55.88% |
| 2006 | 55.99% |
| 2005 | 56.13% |
| 2004 | 56.30% |
| 2003 | 56.50% |
| 2002 | 56.75% |
Labour force participation is the share of people ages 15 and over who are employed or unemployed (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). It is not the unemployment rate. Latest: 55.58% in 2025.
A falling unemployment rate can coincide with people leaving the labour force. This series is the usual check. From 1990 to 2025 (36 years): mean 55.60%, median 55.83%; low 50.55% (2020), high 58.09% (1990).
Source: World Bank Open Data. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (terms).