Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa

South Africa: Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location was 0.1885 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
0.1885
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
41st
of 69 countries
All-time high
0.2091
in 2003
All-time low
0.148
in 2017
Years of data
15
2000–2020

Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa, 2000–2020

00.050.10.150.22000201020202000: 0.2042001: 0.2042003: 0.2092008: 0.1532009: 0.1642010: 0.1662012: 0.1832013: 0.1822014: 0.1582015: 0.182016: 0.1772017: 0.1482018: 0.182019: 0.1772020: 0.189

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 0.1885 for public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in 2020.

That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa peaked at 0.2091 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.148, in 2017.

That places South Africa 41st out of 69 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location: Urban in South Africa, 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 0.204
2001 0.2038 -0.1%
2003 0.2091 +2.6%
2008 0.1532 -26.8%
2009 0.1644 +7.3%
2010 0.1664 +1.2%
2012 0.1835 +10.3%
2013 0.1825 -0.5%
2014 0.1579 -13.5%
2015 0.1803 +14.2%
2016 0.1773 -1.7%
2017 0.148 -16.5%
2018 0.1797 +21.4%
2019 0.1771 -1.5%
2020 0.1885 +6.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.1869 0.1532 0.2091 5
2010s 0.1725 0.148 0.1835 9
2020s 0.1885 0.1885 0.1885 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 38 Czechia 0.2044 compare
  2. 39 Italy 0.1892 compare
  3. 40 Argentina 0.1888 compare
  4. 42 Jordan 0.1852 compare
  5. 43 Zambia 0.1816 compare
  6. 44 Bulgaria 0.1782 compare

See the full ranking of 69 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa?
Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa was 0.1885 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.2091 in 2003.
What is the lowest public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.148 in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location?
South Africa ranks 41st out of 69 countries with data for 2020.
Is public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. 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 Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location: Urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/public-sector-employment-as-a-share-of-total-employment-by-location-urban/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Public sector employment, as a share of total employment by location: Urban
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
69 places, 855 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed