{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"za-unemployment-rate-ilo","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-unemployment-rate-ilo","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-unemployment-rate-ilo/","title":"South Africa Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force) (2025)","description":"South Africa's Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force): 32.4 % of labor force (ILO methodology) in 2025, +0.1pp YoY.","domain":"labor","category":"Labour & Employment","keywords":["Labour & Employment","World Bank","South Africa","2025"],"publisher":"World Bank","frequency":"Annual","geography":"South Africa","temporal_coverage":"1991/2025","unit":"% of labor force (ILO methodology)","last_updated":"2026-07-26","last_updated_text":"26 July 2026","data_as_of":"2025","variable_measured":"South Africa Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force)","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"World Bank","url":"https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=ZA"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"1991–2025"},{"label":"Observations","value":"35"},{"label":"Geography","value":"South Africa"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"26 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"South Africa (2025)","value":"32.4","unit":"% of labor force (ILO methodology)","trend":{"direction":"up","value":"+0.1pp YoY"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"+0.1pp","unit":"percentage points"},{"label":"Trend","value":"up","unit":""},{"label":"Series length","value":"35","unit":"years of data"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"South Africa Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force)"}],"observation_count":35,"observations":[{"period":"1991","value":23.137},{"period":"1992","value":23.463},{"period":"1993","value":23.361},{"period":"1994","value":23.067},{"period":"1995","value":22.705},{"period":"1996","value":22.5},{"period":"1997","value":22.549},{"period":"1998","value":22.739},{"period":"1999","value":22.884},{"period":"2000","value":22.788},{"period":"2001","value":22.652},{"period":"2002","value":22.579},{"period":"2003","value":22.679},{"period":"2004","value":22.567},{"period":"2005","value":22.472},{"period":"2006","value":22.304},{"period":"2007","value":22.26},{"period":"2008","value":22.407},{"period":"2009","value":23.523},{"period":"2010","value":24.683},{"period":"2011","value":24.639},{"period":"2012","value":24.727},{"period":"2013","value":24.561},{"period":"2014","value":24.89},{"period":"2015","value":25.149},{"period":"2016","value":26.536},{"period":"2017","value":27.035},{"period":"2018","value":26.906},{"period":"2019","value":28.468},{"period":"2020","value":29.217},{"period":"2021","value":34.007},{"period":"2022","value":33.268},{"period":"2023","value":32.098},{"period":"2024","value":32.279},{"period":"2025","value":32.391}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"year","label":"Year"},{"key":"value","label":"% of labor force (ILO methodology)"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"year":"2025","value":"32.4","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2024","value":"32.3","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2023","value":"32.1","yoyChange":"-1.2pp"},{"year":"2022","value":"33.3","yoyChange":"-0.7pp"},{"year":"2021","value":"34.0","yoyChange":"+4.8pp"},{"year":"2020","value":"29.2","yoyChange":"+0.7pp"},{"year":"2019","value":"28.5","yoyChange":"+1.6pp"},{"year":"2018","value":"26.9","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2017","value":"27.0","yoyChange":"+0.5pp"},{"year":"2016","value":"26.5","yoyChange":"+1.4pp"},{"year":"2015","value":"25.1","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2014","value":"24.9","yoyChange":"+0.3pp"},{"year":"2013","value":"24.6","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2012","value":"24.7","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2011","value":"24.6","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2010","value":"24.7","yoyChange":"+1.2pp"},{"year":"2009","value":"23.5","yoyChange":"+1.1pp"},{"year":"2008","value":"22.4","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2007","value":"22.3","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2006","value":"22.3","yoyChange":"-0.2pp"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does this indicator measure?","answer":"This page tracks the unemployment rate (ILO methodology) in South Africa from 1990 to present. ILO-consistent unemployment allows direct cross-country comparison of labour market slack on a standardised basis. It is published by World Bank and updated annually."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2025. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1991–2025 (35 observations)."},{"question":"What is the long-term trend?","answer":"The series peaked at 34 % of labor force (ILO methodology) in 2021 and reached its lowest recorded value of 22.3 in 2007. The latest reading of 32.4 in 2025 represents a change of +0.1pp."}]}