Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — South Africa

Vulnerable employment in South Africa in 2025 — 11.66%. Ranked 46 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.21 pp.

2025 11.66% −0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank 46of 182
Period maximum 11.91%1992
Period minimum 8.83%2014

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — South Africa, 1991–20258910111219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.87%1992: 11.91%1993: 11.91%1994: 11.85%1995: 11.76%1996: 11.6%1997: 11.44%1998: 11.27%1999: 11.06%2000: 10.85%2001: 11.18%2002: 11.08%2003: 10.93%2004: 10.69%2005: 11.49%2006: 11.41%2007: 10.4%2008: 10.2%2009: 10.09%2010: 10.15%2011: 10.14%2012: 10.09%2013: 9.53%2014: 8.83%2015: 9.43%2016: 9.59%2017: 9.92%2018: 10.32%2019: 10.67%2020: 10.68%2021: 11.04%2022: 11.26%2023: 10.91%2024: 11.7%2025: 11.66%
Change over the period: −0.21 pp Annual average: -0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 11.66%
World 42.38%
Southern Africa computed 13.76%
Vulnerable employment — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 11.66 −0.03 pp
2024 11.7 +0.79 pp
2023 10.91 −0.35 pp
2022 11.26 +0.22 pp
2021 11.04 +0.36 pp
2020 10.68 +0.01 pp
2019 10.67 +0.34 pp
2018 10.32 +0.4 pp
2017 9.92 +0.34 pp
2016 9.59 +0.16 pp
2015 9.43 +0.6 pp
2014 8.83 −0.7 pp
2013 9.53 −0.56 pp
2012 10.09 −0.05 pp
2011 10.14 −0.02 pp
2010 10.15 +0.07 pp
2009 10.09 −0.11 pp
2008 10.2 −0.2 pp
2007 10.4 −1.01 pp
2006 11.41 −0.09 pp
2005 11.49 +0.8 pp
2004 10.69 −0.24 pp
2003 10.93 −0.14 pp
2002 11.08 −0.11 pp
2001 11.18 +0.33 pp
2000 10.85 −0.21 pp
1999 11.06 −0.2 pp
1998 11.27 −0.18 pp
1997 11.44 −0.16 pp
1996 11.6 −0.15 pp
1995 11.76 −0.09 pp
1994 11.85 −0.06 pp
1993 11.91 −0 pp
1992 11.91 +0.04 pp
1991 11.87

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.