Global Statistics and Country Indicators
South Africa Unemployment Rate Over Time (1980–2026)
South Africa Unemployment Rate Over Time (1980–2026)Unemployment Rate
Data table
| 1980 | 9.2% | 1992 | 21.2% | 2004 | 25.2% | 2016 | 26.7% |
| 1981 | 9.8% | 1993 | 22.2% | 2005 | 24.7% | 2017 | 27.5% |
| 1982 | 10.8% | 1994 | 22.9% | 2006 | 23.6% | 2018 | 27.1% |
| 1983 | 12.5% | 1995 | 16.5% | 2007 | 23% | 2019 | 28.7% |
| 1984 | 13.7% | 1996 | 20.3% | 2008 | 22.5% | 2020 | 29.2% |
| 1985 | 15.5% | 1997 | 22% | 2009 | 23.7% | 2021 | 34.3% |
| 1986 | 16% | 1998 | 26.1% | 2010 | 24.9% | 2022 | 33.5% |
| 1987 | 16.6% | 1999 | 23.3% | 2011 | 24.8% | 2023 | 32.4% |
| 1988 | 17.2% | 2000 | 23% | 2012 | 24.9% | 2024 | 32.6% |
| 1989 | 17.8% | 2001 | 26% | 2013 | 24.7% | 2025 | 32.4% |
| 1990 | 18.8% | 2002 | 27.8% | 2014 | 25.1% | 2026 | 32.5% |
| 1991 | 20.2% | 2003 | 27.7% | 2015 | 25.4% |