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South Africa Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation rate  SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

55.58% +0.01pp (+0.0%)
Year 2025 Rank #136 Global Peak 58.10% (1990) Source World Bank

South Africa Labor Force Participation (1990–2025)

Overview

South Africa's labor force participation stood at 55.58% in 2025, a rise of +0.01pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 57.10% by 2026. South Africa ranked 136th globally.

Data & projection

Year Labor Force Participation YoY change Rank
2028* trend 58.93% - -
2027* trend 58.02% - -
2026* trend 57.10% - -
2025 55.58% +0.01pp #136
2024 55.57% +0.55pp #136
2023 55.02% +1.52pp #138
2022 53.50% +1.48pp #145
2021 52.02% +1.48pp #149
2020 50.55% −4.72pp #154
2019 55.27% +0.11pp #138
2018 55.16% −0.20pp #140
2017 55.36% +0.65pp #140
2016 54.71% +0.12pp #142
2015 54.59% +1.28pp #144
2014 53.31% +0.24pp #147
2013 53.08% +0.57pp #147
2012 52.51% +0.34pp #149
2011 52.17% −0.09pp #148
Show all years (1990-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +14.4% GDP growth 3.2% C/A balance 0.0%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

South Africa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is South Africa's labor force participation?

South Africa's labor force participation was 55.58% in 2025. Ranked 136th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest labor force participation in South Africa?

South Africa's labor force participation peaked at 58.10% in 1990.

What was the lowest labor force participation in South Africa?

The lowest labor force participation in South Africa was 50.55% in 2020.

How does South Africa rank in labor force participation?

South Africa ranks 136th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for labor force participation?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected labor force participation of South Africa in 2026?

South Africa's labor force participation is projected to reach 57.10% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the labor force participation of South Africa in 2025?

The labor force participation of South Africa in 2025 was 55.58%. This ranks 136th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
South Africa Labor Force Participation. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/south-africa/labor-force-participation
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_south-africa_labor-force-participation, title = {South Africa Labor Force Participation}, url = {https://historysaid.com/south-africa/labor-force-participation}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }