Unemployment Rate in South Africa increased to 33.20 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 32.90 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Le taux de chômage des jeunes en Afrique du Sud est passé de 62,40 % au premier trimestre 2025 à 62,20 % au deuxième trimestre 2025. Cette dataset fournit - Taux de chômage des jeunes en Afrique du Sud - valeurs réelles, données historiques, prévisions, graphiques, statistiques, calendrier économique et actualités.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 15 to 64 Years for South Africa (LRUN64TTZAQ156S) from Q3 2000 to Q2 2025 about South Africa, 15 to 64 years, unemployment, and rate.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate in South Africa was 27.2 percent among workers aged 35 to 44 years. The figure decreased from 27.7 percent in the same quarter of the previous year. This age group corresponded to the largest share of the labor force participation in the country. Among young South Africans (15 to 24 years), the unemployment rate was at its highest, at 59.6 percent.

The unemployment rate in South Africa stood at 33.17 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the unemployment rate rose by 10.17 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Long-Term Unemployment Total: 15 Years or over for South Africa (LFUTLTTTZAQ647N) from Q1 2008 to Q2 2025 about 1 year +, South Africa, persons, and unemployment.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in South Africa was reported at 60.08 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 14.610 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.240 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 9.050 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2017, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.610 % in 2017 and a record low of 6.870 % in 2011. South Africa ZA: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Total: From 15 to 24 Years for South Africa (LFUN24TTZAQ647N) from Q1 2008 to Q2 2025 about 15 to 24 years, South Africa, and unemployment.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for South Africa (SLUEM1524ZSZAF) from 1991 to 2024 about South Africa, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at -3.610 % in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.755 % for Dec 2017. South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated quarterly, averaging 1.205 % from Mar 1995 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 81 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.748 % in Dec 2001 and a record low of -17.228 % in Dec 2006. South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

The youth unemployment rate of South Africa was over ** percent in 2024, the highest of any G20 country. Italy followed with a youth unemployment rate of **** percent. In contrast, Japan's youth unemployment rate was the lowest at only 3*** percent. Economic crisis in Argentina At ***** percent, youth unemployment in Argentina falls third out of the G20 nations. The Argentinian economy was hit by a recession beginning in 2022, with an average inflation rate of nearly ** percent that year, jumping to over *** percent in 2023. Such staggering inflation has hit Argentinian consumers hard, with the average consumer price index going from nearly *** in 2021 to ***** in 2022, before increasing to nearly ***** in 2023. While youth unemployment has fallen in Argentina since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, factors such as skyrocketing inflation make getting by difficult for many. Inequality in South Africa With a youth unemployment rate of just over 6* percent, South Africa stands out from the rest of the G20 nations. Thirty years after the end of Apartheid, South Africa is considered one the most unequal country in the world. Using the Gini Index, which measures income inequality with zero representing totally equal distribution and one representing unequal distribution, South Africa has a score of ****, higher than any other nation. Poverty and inequality are a major concern for South Africans, with over ** percent of survey respondents expressing worry over the issue in January 2024, a slight decrease from a recent peak of ** percent in August 2023.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in South Africa was reported at 63.94 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 25 to 54 Years for South Africa (LRUN25TTZAQ156S) from Q1 2008 to Q1 2025 about 25 to 54 years, South Africa, unemployment, and rate.

South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at 2.713 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.424 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data is updated yearly, averaging 2.713 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2017, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 365.948 % in 1998 and a record low of -11.198 % in 2006. South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 27.450 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 26.725 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 24.900 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2017, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.050 % in 2002 and a record low of 4.386 % in 1994. South Africa ZA: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Key information about South Africa Unemployment Rate

• South Africa Unemployment Rate dropped to 32.10% in Sep 2024, from the previously reported figure of 33.50% in Jun 2024.
• South Africa Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2008 to Sep 2024, with an average rate of 26.50%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 35.30% in Dec 2021 and a record low of 21.50% in Dec 2008.
• The data is reported by reported by Statistics South Africa.
• In the latest reports, South Africa Population reached 60.60 million people in Jun 2022.

South Africa ZA: Unemployment: % Change data was reported at 6.388 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.649 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Unemployment: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging 3.296 % from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 921.737 % in 1998 and a record low of -13.398 % in 1994. South Africa ZA: Unemployment: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

In 2023, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate in the world, at 32.1 percent. Of the 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates, six were in Sub-Saharan Africa. What exactly is unemployment? The unemployment rate is the number of people in the workforce currently looking for jobs but not working. This number does not include students and retirees, as they are not looking for work, nor does it include people who have given up on finding a job (known as discouraged workers). Comparing international unemployment rates can be problematic, however, as different countries use different methodologies when classifying unemployment. For example, Niger records the third lowest unemployment rate in the world, despite often being listed as the least developed country worldwide - this is because the majority of the population engage in subsistence farming, with very little opportunity for paid employment. Causes of unemployment in less developed countries A major driver in unemployment in these countries is conflict. In particular, internally displaced persons (IDPs) want to work, but moving to another part of the country disrupts their business network and moves them into a local economy with different labor demand. Countries with low levels of economic development, as roughly indicated by a low GDP per capita, often have fewer labor market opportunities, leading to high unemployment rates.

South Africa: Unemployment rate for males: The latest value from 2024 is 31.17 percent, an increase from 29.95 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.29 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1991 to 2024 is 22.71 percent. The minimum value, 19.48 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 32.06 percent was recorded in 2021.