Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa

South Africa: Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below was 40.6 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
40.6
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
53rd
of 106 countries
All-time high
43.58
in 2006
All-time low
38.68
in 2008
Years of data
20
1995–2020

Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa, 1995–2020

0102030401995200720201995: 39.72000: 42.42001: 42.92002: 402003: 432004: 43.22006: 43.62007: 43.42008: 38.72009: 39.12010: 39.32011: 39.22013: 39.62014: 39.92015: 39.32016: 39.42017: 39.72018: 39.92019: 40.12020: 40.6

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 40.6 for average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in 2020.

The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa peaked at 43.58 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 38.68, in 2008.

South Africa ranks 53rd of 106 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.

Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 39.68
2000 42.41 +6.9%
2001 42.88 +1.1%
2002 40.03 -6.6%
2003 42.96 +7.3%
2004 43.16 +0.5%
2006 43.58 +1.0%
2007 43.37 -0.5%
2008 38.68 -10.8%
2009 39.14 +1.2%
2010 39.28 +0.4%
2011 39.2 -0.2%
2013 39.57 +0.9%
2014 39.86 +0.7%
2015 39.33 -1.3%
2016 39.44 +0.3%
2017 39.67 +0.6%
2018 39.87 +0.5%
2019 40.1 +0.6%
2020 40.6 +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 39.68 39.68 39.68 1
2000s 41.8 38.68 43.58 9
2010s 39.59 39.2 40.1 9
2020s 40.6 40.6 40.6 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 50 Germany 41.76 compare
  2. 51 Colombia 41.64 compare
  3. 52 Dominican Republic 40.83 compare
  4. 54 Mongolia 40.58 compare
  5. 55 Palestine, State of 40.54 compare
  6. 56 India 40.29 compare

See the full ranking of 106 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa?
Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa was 40.6 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 43.58 in 2006.
What is the lowest average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 38.68 in 2008.
How does South Africa rank for average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below?
South Africa ranks 53rd out of 106 countries with data for 2020.
Is average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/average-age-of-workers-aged-15-64-primary-education-and-below/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Average age of workers, aged 15-64, primary education and below
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
106 places, 1,453 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed