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Historical Values
Year Value
1990 400,000; 163,000 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1988 est.); 19,000 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1988)
1991 400,000; 182,200 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1988 est.); 19,000 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1988)
1992 400,000; 198,500 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1990 est.); 14,600 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1990)
1993 400,000 by occupation: 198,500 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1990 est.); 14,600 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1990)
1994 428,000 (1992) by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.); 14,300 are employed in various mines in South Africa (March 1992)
1995 428,000 (1992) by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.); 14,300 are employed in various mines in South Africa (March 1992)
1996 428,000 (1992) by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees; 14,300 are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.)
1997 total : 428,000 (1992) by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.)
1998 total: 235,000 formal sector employees (1995) by occupation: 100,000 public sector; 135,000 private sector, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1995 est.)
1999 235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
2000 235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
2001 235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
2002 264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
2003 264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
2004 264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
2005 264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
2006 288,400 formal sector employees (2004)
2007 288,400 formal sector employees (2004)
2008 288,400 formal sector employees (2004)
2009 685,300 formal sector employees (2007) country comparison to the world: 146
2010 685,300 formal sector employees (2007) country comparison to the world: 151
2011 1.225 million formal sector employees (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
2012 1.288 million country comparison to the world: 136 note: formal sector employees (2012 est.)
2013 1.288 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
2014 1.308 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
2015 1.017 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144
2016 1.155 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
2017 1.187 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
2018 1.177 million (2017 est.)
2019 1.177 million (2017 est.)
2020 1.177 million (2017 est.)
2021 1.177 million (2017 est.)
2022 1.177 million (2017 est.)
2023 1.05 million (2021 est.)
2024 1.17 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
2025 1.173 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work