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

South Africa: Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total was 21.34 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
21.34 million
Change on year
down 6.9%
World rank
24th
of 113 countries
All-time high
22.93 million
in 2019
All-time low
0
in 2005
Years of data
22
1995–2020

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M25.0M1995200720201995: 13.7M2000: 15.6M2001: 15.7M2002: 19.2M2003: 16.2M2004: 16.5M2005: 02006: 20.3M2007: 20.6M2008: 18.8M2009: 18.5M2010: 18.4M2011: 18.7M2012: 19.2M2013: 19.7M2014: 20.2M2015: 21.1M2016: 21.5M2017: 22.3M2018: 22.5M2019: 22.9M2020: 21.3M

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 21.34 million for total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total in 2020.

That represents a change of down 6.9% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total in South Africa peaked at 22.93 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 24th of 113 countries on this measure, 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, total in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 13.68 million —
2000 15.56 million +13.7%
2001 15.69 million +0.9%
2002 19.17 million +22.2%
2003 16.15 million -15.7%
2004 16.55 million +2.4%
2005 0 -100.0%
2006 20.35 million —
2007 20.58 million +1.1%
2008 18.77 million -8.8%
2009 18.54 million -1.2%
2010 18.35 million -1.0%
2011 18.70 million +1.9%
2012 19.19 million +2.6%
2013 19.75 million +2.9%
2014 20.22 million +2.4%
2015 21.08 million +4.3%
2016 21.53 million +2.1%
2017 22.29 million +3.5%
2018 22.49 million +0.9%
2019 22.93 million +1.9%
2020 21.34 million -6.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 21.34 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.49 million, 6.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 21.34 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.17 million, 3.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total 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% 16.55 million 0

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.68 million 13.68 million 13.68 million 1
2000s 16.13 million 0 20.58 million 10
2010s 20.65 million 18.35 million 22.93 million 10
2020s 21.34 million 21.34 million 21.34 million 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 21 Colombia 23.26 million compare
  2. 22 Spain 23.03 million compare
  3. 23 Tanzania 21.63 million compare
  4. 25 Kenya 18.62 million compare
  5. 26 Peru 16.79 million compare
  6. 27 Poland 16.38 million compare

See the full ranking of 113 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, total in South Africa?
Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total in South Africa was 21.34 million in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 22.93 million in 2019.
What is the lowest total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total 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, total?
South Africa ranks 24th out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
Is total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. 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, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/total-labor-force-in-the-sample-aged-15-64-total/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Total labor force in the sample, aged 15-64, total
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
113 places, 1,673 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed