Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa

South Africa: Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total was 0.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
0.4%
Change on year
down 9.3%
World rank
106th
of 111 countries
All-time high
0.5%
in 2008
All-time low
0.4%
in 2020
Years of data
21
1995–2020

Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa, 1995–2020

00.10.20.30.40.51995200720201995: 0.418 % of total population in working age2000: 0.436 % of total population in working age2001: 0.438 % of total population in working age2002: 0.393 % of total population in working age2003: 0.39 % of total population in working age2004: 0.396 % of total population in working age2006: 0.428 % of total population in working age2007: 0.44 % of total population in working age2008: 0.459 % of total population in working age2009: 0.439 % of total population in working age2010: 0.418 % of total population in working age2011: 0.419 % of total population in working age2012: 0.422 % of total population in working age2013: 0.427 % of total population in working age2014: 0.428 % of total population in working age2015: 0.437 % of total population in working age2016: 0.43 % of total population in working age2017: 0.434 % of total population in working age2018: 0.432 % of total population in working age2019: 0.425 % of total population in working age2020: 0.385 % of total population in working age

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of total population in working age.

Analysis

In 2020, employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa stood at 0.4%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa peaked at 0.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 106th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total (% of total population in working age) in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year % of total population in working age Change
1995 0.4%
2000 0.4% +4.2%
2001 0.4% +0.4%
2002 0.4% -10.3%
2003 0.4% -0.6%
2004 0.4% +1.4%
2006 0.4% +8.2%
2007 0.4% +2.7%
2008 0.5% +4.4%
2009 0.4% -4.5%
2010 0.4% -4.6%
2011 0.4% +0.2%
2012 0.4% +0.7%
2013 0.4% +1.2%
2014 0.4% +0.1%
2015 0.4% +2.1%
2016 0.4% -1.5%
2017 0.4% +0.7%
2018 0.4% -0.3%
2019 0.4% -1.8%
2020 0.4% -9.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 1
2000s 0.4% 0.4% 0.5% 9
2010s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 10
2020s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 103 Rwanda 0.4% compare
  2. 104 Egypt 0.4% compare
  3. 105 Palestine, State of 0.4% compare
  4. 107 Gambia 0.4% compare
  5. 108 Kosovo 0.4% compare
  6. 108 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 0.4% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa?
Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa was 0.4% in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.5% in 2008.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total?
South Africa ranks 106th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. 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 Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total (% of total population in working age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/employment-to-population-ratio-aged-15-64-total-percent-of-total-population-in-working-age/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, total (% of total population in working age)
Unit
% of total population in working age
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
111 places, 1,633 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed