Labor force in South Africa in 2025 — 26,731,522 people. Ranked 26 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 81.4%.
1990–2025 · people
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | people | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26.73M | +369,269 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 26.36M | +654,984 | +2.55% |
| 2023 | 25.71M | +1.12M | +4.55% |
| 2022 | 24.59M | +1.11M | +4.72% |
| 2021 | 23.48M | +1.13M | +5.07% |
| 2020 | 22.35M | −1.55M | −6.49% |
| 2019 | 23.9M | +573,959 | +2.46% |
| 2018 | 23.33M | +436,704 | +1.91% |
| 2017 | 22.89M | +434,019 | +1.93% |
| 2016 | 22.45M | +254,434 | +1.15% |
| 2015 | 22.2M | +1.01M | +4.76% |
| 2014 | 21.19M | +494,699 | +2.39% |
| 2013 | 20.7M | +618,631 | +3.08% |
| 2012 | 20.08M | +482,147 | +2.46% |
| 2011 | 19.6M | +282,038 | +1.46% |
| 2010 | 19.31M | −314,337 | −1.6% |
| 2009 | 19.63M | −357,212 | −1.79% |
| 2008 | 19.99M | +283,370 | +1.44% |
| 2007 | 19.7M | +276,168 | +1.42% |
| 2006 | 19.43M | +277,569 | +1.45% |
| 2005 | 19.15M | +291,572 | +1.55% |
| 2004 | 18.86M | +313,036 | +1.69% |
| 2003 | 18.54M | +329,688 | +1.81% |
| 2002 | 18.21M | +327,066 | +1.83% |
| 2001 | 17.89M | +307,581 | +1.75% |
| 2000 | 17.58M | +309,499 | +1.79% |
| 1999 | 17.27M | +329,803 | +1.95% |
| 1998 | 16.94M | +332,660 | +2% |
| 1997 | 16.61M | +248,714 | +1.52% |
| 1996 | 16.36M | +203,421 | +1.26% |
| 1995 | 16.16M | +142,239 | +0.89% |
| 1994 | 16.01M | +268,079 | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 15.74M | +363,061 | +2.36% |
| 1992 | 15.38M | +266,618 | +1.76% |
| 1991 | 15.12M | +375,193 | +2.55% |
| 1990 | 14.74M | — | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.
Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.
How much output one employed person creates in a year — in constant PPP dollars.
Labor Female share of the labor forceWhat part of the labor force of a country is made up of women.
Labor Labor force participation rateWhat share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.
Labor Employment-to-population ratioThe share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.
