ARCHIVE // ZA // TIME-SERIES
Unemployment rate
South Africa — 36 years of data
Historical Values
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 22% (1988); blacks 25-30%, up to 50% in homelands (1988 est.) |
| 1991 | 22% (1989); blacks 25-30%, up to 50% in homelands (1988 est.) |
| 1992 | 40% (1991); well over 50% in some homeland areas (1991 est.) |
| 1993 | 45% (well over 50% in some homeland areas) (1992 est.) |
| 1994 | 50% (1994 est.) |
| 1995 | 32.6% (1994 est.); an additional 11% underemployment |
| 1996 | 32.6% (1996 est.); an additional 11% underemployment |
| 1997 | 34% (1996 est.); note - an additional 11% of the workforce is underemployed |
| 1998 | 30% (1997 est.); note-an additional 11% of the workforce is underemployed |
| 1999 | 30% (1998 est.) |
| 2000 | 30% (1999 est.) |
| 2001 | 30% (2000 est.) |
| 2002 | 37% (2001 est.) |
| 2003 | 37% (includes workers no longer looking for employment) (2001 est.) |
| 2004 | 31% (includes workers no longer looking for employment) (2003 est.) |
| 2005 | 26.2% (2004 est.) |
| 2006 | 26.6% (2005 est.) |
| 2007 | 25.5% (2006 est.) |
| 2008 | 24.3% (2007 est.) |
| 2009 | 22.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 24.3% (2007 est.) |
| 2010 | 23.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 24% (2009 est.) |
| 2011 | 24.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 24% (2009 est.) |
| 2012 | 24.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 24.9% (2011 est.) |
| 2013 | 25.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 24.9% (2011 est.) |
| 2014 | 24.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 25.1% (2012 est.) |
| 2015 | 25.1% (2014 est.) | 24.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173 |
| 2016 | 25.4% (2015 est.) | 25.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179 |
| 2017 | 26.7% (2016 est.) | 25.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194 |
| 2018 | 27.5% (2017 est.) | 26.7% (2016 est.) |
| 2019 | 27.5% (2017 est.) | 26.7% (2016 est.) |
| 2020 | 28.53% (2019 est.) | 27.09% (2018 est.) |
| 2021 | 28.53% (2019 est.) 27.09% (2018 est.) |
| 2022 | 28.53% (2019 est.) 27.09% (2018 est.) |
| 2023 | 33.56% (2021 est.) 29.22% (2020 est.) 28.47% (2019 est.) |
| 2024 | 27.99% (2023 est.) 28.84% (2022 est.) 28.77% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment |
| 2025 | 33.2% (2024 est.) 32.1% (2023 est.) 33.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment |