South Africa Youth Unemployment Rate (2025)
South Africa's Youth Unemployment Rate: 59.9 % of labor force ages 15–24 in 2025, -0.3pp YoY. World Bank (SL.UEM.1524.ZS), 1991–2025.
South Africa (2025)
59.9
% of labor force ages 15–24
-0.3pp YoY
YoY Change
-0.3pp
percentage points
Trend
down
Series length
35
years of data
Data
| Year | % of labor force ages 15–24 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59.9 | -0.3pp |
| 2024 | 60.2 | -0.1pp |
| 2023 | 60.3 | -1.4pp |
| 2022 | 61.7 | -3.8pp |
| 2021 | 65.5 | +5.9pp |
| 2020 | 59.6 | +2.3pp |
| 2019 | 57.3 | +3.7pp |
| 2018 | 53.6 | +0.2pp |
| 2017 | 53.4 | -0.1pp |
| 2016 | 53.5 | +3.4pp |
| 2015 | 50.1 | -1.1pp |
| 2014 | 51.2 | unchanged |
| 2013 | 51.2 | -0.1pp |
| 2012 | 51.3 | +1.6pp |
| 2011 | 49.7 | -0.8pp |
| 2010 | 50.5 | +3pp |
| 2009 | 47.5 | +2.9pp |
| 2008 | 44.6 | +0.6pp |
| 2007 | 44 | +0.1pp |
| 2006 | 43.9 | -0.1pp |
About this Dataset
South Africa recorded 59.9 % of labor force ages 15–24 in 2025. The latest change was -0.3pp. Across 1991–2025 the series ranges from 42.1 in 1997 to 65.5 in 2021.
This page tracks the share of 15–24 year-olds in the labor force who are unemployed in South Africa from 2000 to present. Compare to the total adult unemployment rate.
Data sourced from World Bank via Open Data API. Values use World Bank standardised methodology intended for cross-country comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
This page tracks the share of 15–24 year-olds in the labor force who are unemployed in South Africa from 2000 to present. Compare to the total adult unemployment rate. It is published by World Bank and updated annually.
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).
The series peaked at 65.5 % of labor force ages 15–24 in 2021 and reached its lowest recorded value of 42.1 in 1997. The latest reading of 59.9 in 2025 represents a change of -0.3pp.