Unemployment rate in South Africa in 2025 — 32.39%. Ranked 181 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 9.25 pp.
1991–2025 · % of labor force
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32.39 | +0.11 pp |
| 2024 | 32.28 | +0.18 pp |
| 2023 | 32.1 | −1.17 pp |
| 2022 | 33.27 | −0.74 pp |
| 2021 | 34.01 | +4.79 pp |
| 2020 | 29.22 | +0.75 pp |
| 2019 | 28.47 | +1.56 pp |
| 2018 | 26.91 | −0.13 pp |
| 2017 | 27.04 | +0.5 pp |
| 2016 | 26.54 | +1.39 pp |
| 2015 | 25.15 | +0.26 pp |
| 2014 | 24.89 | +0.33 pp |
| 2013 | 24.56 | −0.17 pp |
| 2012 | 24.73 | +0.09 pp |
| 2011 | 24.64 | −0.04 pp |
| 2010 | 24.68 | +1.16 pp |
| 2009 | 23.52 | +1.12 pp |
| 2008 | 22.41 | +0.15 pp |
| 2007 | 22.26 | −0.04 pp |
| 2006 | 22.3 | −0.17 pp |
| 2005 | 22.47 | −0.09 pp |
| 2004 | 22.57 | −0.11 pp |
| 2003 | 22.68 | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 22.58 | −0.07 pp |
| 2001 | 22.65 | −0.14 pp |
| 2000 | 22.79 | −0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 22.88 | +0.15 pp |
| 1998 | 22.74 | +0.19 pp |
| 1997 | 22.55 | +0.05 pp |
| 1996 | 22.5 | −0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 22.71 | −0.36 pp |
| 1994 | 23.07 | −0.29 pp |
| 1993 | 23.36 | −0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 23.46 | +0.33 pp |
| 1991 | 23.14 | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.
Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.
Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.
The unemployment rate at ages 15–24 — almost always two to three times the overall rate.
Labor Female unemploymentThe unemployment rate of the female part of the labor force.
Labor Male unemploymentThe share of men in the labor force who have no job and are looking for one.
Labor Employment-to-population ratioThe share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.
