Average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa

South Africa: Average age of workers, aged 25-64 was 40.88 in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
40.88
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
71st
of 108 countries
All-time high
40.88
in 2020
All-time low
39.17
in 1995
Years of data
21
1995–2020

Average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa, 1995–2020

0102030401995200720201995: 39.22000: 402001: 402002: 39.62003: 39.72004: 39.62006: 39.62007: 39.42008: 39.42009: 39.62010: 39.72011: 39.82012: 39.82013: 39.92014: 40.12015: 402016: 40.12017: 40.42018: 40.52019: 40.62020: 40.9

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

In 2020, average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa stood at 40.88. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa peaked at 40.88 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 39.17, in 1995.

That places South Africa 71st out of 108 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

Average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 39.17 —
2000 40 +2.1%
2001 39.97 -0.1%
2002 39.64 -0.8%
2003 39.7 +0.1%
2004 39.63 -0.2%
2006 39.58 -0.1%
2007 39.43 -0.4%
2008 39.42 -0.0%
2009 39.61 +0.5%
2010 39.68 +0.2%
2011 39.81 +0.3%
2012 39.83 +0.1%
2013 39.94 +0.3%
2014 40.08 +0.4%
2015 39.99 -0.2%
2016 40.15 +0.4%
2017 40.4 +0.6%
2018 40.48 +0.2%
2019 40.64 +0.4%
2020 40.88 +0.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 40.88 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.21, 97% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 40.88 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.78, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 39.17 39.17 39.17 1
2000s 39.67 39.42 40 9
2010s 40.1 39.68 40.64 10
2020s 40.88 40.88 40.88 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 68 India 41.15 compare
  2. 69 Philippines 40.99 compare
  3. 70 Paraguay 40.91 compare
  4. 72 Nepal 40.85 compare
  5. 73 Djibouti 40.8 compare
  6. 74 Turkey 40.76 compare

See the full ranking of 108 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa?
Average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa was 40.88 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest average age of workers, aged 25-64 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 40.88 in 2020.
What is the lowest average age of workers, aged 25-64 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 39.17 in 1995.
How does South Africa rank for average age of workers, aged 25-64?
South Africa ranks 71st out of 108 countries with data for 2020.
Is average age of workers, aged 25-64 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Average age of workers, aged 25-64. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average age of workers, aged 25-64 in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/average-age-of-workers-aged-25-64/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Average age of workers, aged 25-64
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
108 places, 1,528 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed