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

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

Latest (2020)
0.4%
Change on year
down 9.3%
World rank
91st
of 97 countries
All-time high
0.5%
in 2008
All-time low
0.4%
in 2020
Years of data
19
1995–2020

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

00.20.40.61995200720201995: 0.495 % of urban population in working age2000: 0.475 % of urban population in working age2001: 0.479 % of urban population in working age2002: 0.452 % of urban population in working age2003: 0.454 % of urban population in working age2004: 0.461 % of urban population in working age2008: 0.531 % of urban population in working age2009: 0.511 % of urban population in working age2010: 0.49 % of urban population in working age2011: 0.492 % of urban population in working age2012: 0.492 % of urban population in working age2013: 0.49 % of urban population in working age2014: 0.489 % of urban population in working age2015: 0.498 % of urban population in working age2016: 0.488 % of urban population in working age2017: 0.493 % of urban population in working age2018: 0.49 % of urban population in working age2019: 0.477 % of urban population in working age2020: 0.433 % of urban population in working age

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban in South Africa is 0.4%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.

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

That places South Africa 91st out of 97 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban (% of urban population in working age) in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year % of urban population in working age Change
1995 0.5%
2000 0.5% -4.0%
2001 0.5% +0.8%
2002 0.5% -5.6%
2003 0.5% +0.6%
2004 0.5% +1.4%
2008 0.5% +15.3%
2009 0.5% -3.8%
2010 0.5% -4.0%
2011 0.5% +0.4%
2012 0.5% -0.1%
2013 0.5% -0.4%
2014 0.5% -0.2%
2015 0.5% +1.9%
2016 0.5% -2.0%
2017 0.5% +1.0%
2018 0.5% -0.6%
2019 0.5% -2.5%
2020 0.4% -9.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 0.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6%, 69% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 0.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.6%, 69% of the median. (14 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 1
2000s 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 7
2010s 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 10
2020s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 88 Tunisia 0.5% compare
  2. 89 Pakistan 0.4% compare
  3. 90 Morocco 0.4% compare
  4. 92 Egypt 0.4% compare
  5. 93 Palestine, State of 0.4% compare
  6. 94 Kosovo 0.4% compare
  7. 94 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 0.4% compare

See the full ranking of 97 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, urban in South Africa?
Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban in South Africa was 0.4% in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.5% in 2008.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban 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, urban?
South Africa ranks 91st out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
Is employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. 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, urban (% of urban population in working age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, aged 15-64, urban (% of urban population in working age)
Unit
% of urban population in working age
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
97 places, 1,339 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed