Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa

South Africa: Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary was 0.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
0.2%
Change on year
up 6.6%
World rank
61st
of 80 countries
All-time high
0.3%
in 2000
All-time low
0.1%
in 1995
Years of data
19
1995–2020

Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa, 1995–2020

0.10.150.20.251995200720201995: 0.088 % of employed population with low education in working age2000: 0.266 % of employed population with low education in working age2001: 0.198 % of employed population with low education in working age2003: 0.202 % of employed population with low education in working age2004: 0.166 % of employed population with low education in working age2006: 0.223 % of employed population with low education in working age2007: 0.186 % of employed population with low education in working age2008: 0.142 % of employed population with low education in working age2009: 0.144 % of employed population with low education in working age2010: 0.144 % of employed population with low education in working age2011: 0.142 % of employed population with low education in working age2013: 0.155 % of employed population with low education in working age2014: 0.155 % of employed population with low education in working age2015: 0.16 % of employed population with low education in working age2016: 0.163 % of employed population with low education in working age2017: 0.163 % of employed population with low education in working age2018: 0.17 % of employed population with low education in working age2019: 0.171 % of employed population with low education in working age2020: 0.182 % of employed population with low education in working age

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of employed population with low education in working age.

Analysis

The most recent figure for underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa is 0.2%, measured in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa peaked at 0.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1995.

South Africa ranks 61st of 80 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.

Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary education and below (% of employed population with low education in working age) in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year % of employed population with low education in working age Change
1995 0.1%
2000 0.3% +200.7%
2001 0.2% -25.4%
2003 0.2% +1.8%
2004 0.2% -17.6%
2006 0.2% +34.2%
2007 0.2% -16.8%
2008 0.1% -23.6%
2009 0.1% +1.4%
2010 0.1% +0.2%
2011 0.1% -1.2%
2013 0.2% +8.7%
2014 0.2% +0.2%
2015 0.2% +3.4%
2016 0.2% +1.3%
2017 0.2% +0.0%
2018 0.2% +4.8%
2019 0.2% +0.1%
2020 0.2% +6.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 1
2000s 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 8
2010s 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 9
2020s 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 58 Türkiye 0.2% compare
  2. 59 Estonia 0.2% compare
  3. 60 India 0.2% compare
  4. 62 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 0.2% compare
  5. 63 Greece 0.2% compare
  6. 64 Pakistan 0.2% compare

See the full ranking of 80 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa?
Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa was 0.2% in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2000.
What is the lowest underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1995.
How does South Africa rank for underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary?
South Africa ranks 61st out of 80 countries with data for 2020.
Is underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. 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 Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary education and below (% of employed population with low education in working age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/underemployment-less-than-35-hours-per-week-aged-15-64-primary-education-and-below/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Underemployment, less than 35 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary education and below (% of employed population with low education in working age)
Unit
% of employed population with low education in working age
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
80 places, 1,109 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed