Unemployment in South Africa
32.4%
% of labor force · 2025
2nd highest of 181 countries
In 2015: 25.1%
Nearby in the ranking
- eSwatini 34.2%
- South Africa 32.4%
- Djibouti 26.0%
- Botswana 24.5%
- Gabon 20.2%
More about South Africa
About the data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
- Unit
- % of labor force
- Years
- 1991–2025
- Data as of
- 2026-09-28
- Source
- World Bank
- License
- CC BY 4.0
- Credit
- World Bank, World Development Indicators (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0