South Africa: Informal employment

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 South Africa

Informal employment, percent of total employment

 Latest value 31.50
 Year 2020
 Measure percent
 Data availability 2000 - 2020
 Average 39.46
 Min - Max 31.50 - 54.10
 Source International Labour Organization
The latest value from 2020 is 31.5 percent, a decline from 34.7 percent in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 47.30 percent, based on data from 26 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 2000 to 2020 is 39.46 percent. The minimum value, 31.5 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 54.1 percent was recorded in 2000. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
South Africa - Informal employment - Recent values chart

Historical series
South Africa - Informal employment - historical chart - 2000-2020




Definition: Informal employment as percent of total employment. Derived from national surveys conducted by the International Labour Organization.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Labor force 27.14 2023 million people
 Unemployment rate 27.99 2023 percent
 Female unemployment 29.87 2023 percent
 Male unemployment 26.32 2023 percent
 Youth unemployment 49.14 2023 percent
 Labor force participation 58.08 2023 percent
 Labor force: percent female 46.98 2023 percent
 Female labor force participation 52.38 2023 percent
 Male labor force participation 64.27 2023 percent
 Self-employment 28.99 2022 percent
 Informal employment 31.50 2020 percent
 Employment 16.95 Q3/2024 million employed people
 Unemployment rate 32.10 Q3/2024 percent
 Labor cost 150.70 Q2/2024 index points
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