South Africa - Unemployment
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate)
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in South Africa was 31.02 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 22 years was 41.32 in 2002, while its lowest value was 25.54 in 2009.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.
See also:
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 29.96 |
| 1999 | 30.26 |
| 2000 | 35.66 |
| 2001 | 36.41 |
| 2002 | 41.32 |
| 2003 | 39.32 |
| 2004 | 36.39 |
| 2005 | 36.50 |
| 2006 | 35.89 |
| 2007 | 33.17 |
| 2008 | 25.74 |
| 2009 | 25.54 |
| 2010 | 26.98 |
| 2011 | 27.19 |
| 2012 | 27.05 |
| 2013 | 26.52 |
| 2014 | 27.02 |
| 2015 | 27.52 |
| 2016 | 28.98 |
| 2017 | 29.26 |
| 2018 | 29.05 |
| 2019 | 30.50 |
| 2020 | 31.02 |
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Africa was 35.68 as of 2021. Its highest value over the past 30 years was 41.37 in 2002, while its lowest value was 25.58 in 2009.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.
See also:
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 35.67 |
| 1992 | 35.74 |
| 1993 | 35.71 |
| 1994 | 35.71 |
| 1995 | 35.75 |
| 1996 | 35.78 |
| 1997 | 35.86 |
| 1998 | 35.95 |
| 1999 | 35.95 |
| 2000 | 35.95 |
| 2001 | 36.56 |
| 2002 | 41.37 |
| 2003 | 39.32 |
| 2004 | 36.24 |
| 2005 | 36.44 |
| 2006 | 35.84 |
| 2007 | 33.09 |
| 2008 | 25.82 |
| 2009 | 25.58 |
| 2010 | 27.02 |
| 2011 | 27.24 |
| 2012 | 27.09 |
| 2013 | 26.55 |
| 2014 | 27.04 |
| 2015 | 27.55 |
| 2016 | 29.01 |
| 2017 | 29.28 |
| 2018 | 29.07 |
| 2019 | 30.51 |
| 2020 | 31.04 |
| 2021 | 35.68 |
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate)
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in South Africa was 27.74 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 22 years was 27.74 in 2020, while its lowest value was 19.69 in 2008.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.
See also:
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 21.32 |
| 1999 | 21.06 |
| 2000 | 25.33 |
| 2001 | 26.33 |
| 2002 | 27.31 |
| 2003 | 27.08 |
| 2004 | 24.41 |
| 2005 | 23.56 |
| 2006 | 22.58 |
| 2007 | 21.51 |
| 2008 | 19.69 |
| 2009 | 21.89 |
| 2010 | 22.84 |
| 2011 | 22.56 |
| 2012 | 22.84 |
| 2013 | 22.95 |
| 2014 | 23.15 |
| 2015 | 23.20 |
| 2016 | 24.53 |
| 2017 | 25.20 |
| 2018 | 25.13 |
| 2019 | 26.79 |
| 2020 | 27.74 |
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Africa was 31.84 as of 2021. Its highest value over the past 30 years was 31.84 in 2021, while its lowest value was 19.75 in 2008.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.
See also:
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 26.38 |
| 1992 | 26.33 |
| 1993 | 26.19 |
| 1994 | 26.08 |
| 1995 | 26.00 |
| 1996 | 25.90 |
| 1997 | 25.84 |
| 1998 | 25.79 |
| 1999 | 25.66 |
| 2000 | 25.54 |
| 2001 | 26.44 |
| 2002 | 27.35 |
| 2003 | 27.08 |
| 2004 | 24.31 |
| 2005 | 23.52 |
| 2006 | 22.55 |
| 2007 | 21.46 |
| 2008 | 19.75 |
| 2009 | 21.92 |
| 2010 | 22.87 |
| 2011 | 22.60 |
| 2012 | 22.88 |
| 2013 | 22.97 |
| 2014 | 23.17 |
| 2015 | 23.22 |
| 2016 | 24.56 |
| 2017 | 25.22 |
| 2018 | 25.15 |
| 2019 | 26.80 |
| 2020 | 27.75 |
| 2021 | 31.84 |
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in South Africa was 29.22 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 22 years was 33.29 in 2002, while its lowest value was 22.41 in 2008.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.
See also:
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 25.00 |
| 1999 | 25.37 |
| 2000 | 29.88 |
| 2001 | 30.69 |
| 2002 | 33.29 |
| 2003 | 32.31 |
| 2004 | 29.45 |
| 2005 | 29.12 |
| 2006 | 28.34 |
| 2007 | 26.54 |
| 2008 | 22.41 |
| 2009 | 23.52 |
| 2010 | 24.68 |
| 2011 | 24.64 |
| 2012 | 24.73 |
| 2013 | 24.56 |
| 2014 | 24.89 |
| 2015 | 25.15 |
| 2016 | 26.54 |
| 2017 | 27.04 |
| 2018 | 26.91 |
| 2019 | 28.47 |
| 2020 | 29.22 |
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Africa was 33.56 as of 2021. Its highest value over the past 30 years was 33.56 in 2021, while its lowest value was 22.41 in 2008.
Definition: Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in December 2019.
See also:
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 29.96 |
| 1992 | 29.98 |
| 1993 | 29.92 |
| 1994 | 29.89 |
| 1995 | 29.89 |
| 1996 | 29.87 |
| 1997 | 29.91 |
| 1998 | 29.95 |
| 1999 | 29.91 |
| 2000 | 29.88 |
| 2001 | 30.69 |
| 2002 | 33.29 |
| 2003 | 32.31 |
| 2004 | 29.45 |
| 2005 | 29.12 |
| 2006 | 28.34 |
| 2007 | 26.54 |
| 2008 | 22.41 |
| 2009 | 23.52 |
| 2010 | 24.68 |
| 2011 | 24.64 |
| 2012 | 24.73 |
| 2013 | 24.56 |
| 2014 | 24.89 |
| 2015 | 25.15 |
| 2016 | 26.54 |
| 2017 | 27.04 |
| 2018 | 26.91 |
| 2019 | 28.47 |
| 2020 | 29.22 |
| 2021 | 33.56 |
Classification
Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators
Sub-Topic: Unemployment
