Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa

South Africa: Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male was 11.74 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
11.74 million
Change on year
down 6.4%
World rank
23rd
of 109 countries
All-time high
12.54 million
in 2019
All-time low
0
in 2005
Years of data
22
1995–2020

Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa, 1995–2020

05.0M10.0M15.0M1995200720201995: 7.6M2000: 8.2M2001: 8.1M2002: 9.7M2003: 8.6M2004: 8.9M2005: 02006: 10.4M2007: 10.6M2008: 10.3M2009: 10.2M2010: 10.2M2011: 10.3M2012: 10.6M2013: 10.8M2014: 11.1M2015: 11.6M2016: 11.8M2017: 12.2M2018: 12.3M2019: 12.5M2020: 11.7M

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 11.74 million for total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in 2020.

That represents a change of down 6.4% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa peaked at 12.54 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2005.

That places South Africa 23rd out of 109 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 7.57 million —
2000 8.15 million +7.6%
2001 8.15 million -0.0%
2002 9.66 million +18.6%
2003 8.60 million -11.0%
2004 8.86 million +3.0%
2005 0 -100.0%
2006 10.43 million —
2007 10.59 million +1.6%
2008 10.33 million -2.5%
2009 10.24 million -0.9%
2010 10.18 million -0.6%
2011 10.30 million +1.2%
2012 10.59 million +2.8%
2013 10.83 million +2.2%
2014 11.10 million +2.5%
2015 11.56 million +4.1%
2016 11.83 million +2.3%
2017 12.18 million +3.0%
2018 12.30 million +0.9%
2019 12.54 million +2.0%
2020 11.74 million -6.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 11.74 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.86 million, 6.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 11.74 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.25 million, 3.6× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2005 -100.0% 8.86 million 0

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.57 million 7.57 million 7.57 million 1
2000s 8.50 million 0 10.59 million 10
2010s 11.34 million 10.18 million 12.54 million 10
2020s 11.74 million 11.74 million 11.74 million 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 20 South Korea 14.75 million compare
  2. 21 Colombia 13.43 million compare
  3. 22 Spain 12.23 million compare
  4. 24 Tanzania 11.21 million compare
  5. 25 Kenya 9.72 million compare
  6. 26 Poland 8.92 million compare

See the full ranking of 109 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa?
Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa was 11.74 million in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12.54 million in 2019.
What is the lowest total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male?
South Africa ranks 23rd out of 109 countries with data for 2020.
Is total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/total-labor-force-in-the-sample-aged-15-64-male/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, male
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
109 places, 1,563 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed