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South Africa Unemployment Rate

South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025. This marks an increase from 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025. South Africa's record low unemployment rate was 21.5% in Q4 2008 and record high was 35.3% in Q4 2021.

Quarterly Historical Data (2000-2025)

(in %)
Quarter Unemployment Rate
Q2 2025 33.2%
Q1 2025 32.9%
Q4 2024 31.9%
Q3 2024 32.1%
Q2 2024 33.5%
Q1 2024 32.9%
Q4 2023 32.1%
Q3 2023 31.9%
Q2 2023 32.6%
Q1 2023 32.9%
Q4 2022 32.7%
Q3 2022 32.9%
Q2 2022 33.9%
Q1 2022 34.5%
Q4 2021 35.3%
Q3 2021 34.9%
Q2 2021 34.4%
Q1 2021 32.6%
Q4 2020 32.5%
Q3 2020 30.8%
Q2 2020 23.3%
Q1 2020 30.1%
Q4 2019 29.1%
Q3 2019 29.1%
Q2 2019 29%
Q1 2019 27.6%
Q4 2018 27.1%
Q3 2018 27.5%
Q2 2018 27.2%
Q1 2018 26.7%
Q4 2017 26.7%
Q3 2017 27.7%
Q2 2017 27.7%
Q1 2017 27.7%
Q4 2016 26.5%
Q3 2016 27.1%
Q2 2016 26.6%
Q1 2016 26.7%
Q4 2015 24.5%
Q3 2015 25.5%
Q2 2015 25%
Q1 2015 26.4%
Q4 2014 24.3%
Q3 2014 25.4%
Q2 2014 25.5%
Q1 2014 25.2%
Q4 2013 24.1%
Q3 2013 24.5%
Q2 2013 25.3%
Q1 2013 25%
Q4 2012 24.5%
Q3 2012 25.2%
Q2 2012 24.8%
Q1 2012 25%
Q4 2011 23.8%
Q3 2011 25%
Q2 2011 25.6%
Q1 2011 24.8%
Q4 2010 23.9%
Q3 2010 25.4%
Q2 2010 25.1%
Q1 2010 25.1%
Q4 2009 24.1%
Q3 2009 24.5%
Q2 2009 23.2%
Q1 2009 23%
Q4 2008 21.5%
Q3 2008 22.8%
Q2 2008 22.6%
Q1 2008 23.2%
Q3 2007 23%
Q2 2007 23.1%
Q1 2007 23.5%
Q3 2006 25.5%
Q1 2006 25.6%
Q3 2005 26.7%
Q1 2005 26.5%
Q3 2004 26.2%
Q1 2004 27.9%
Q3 2003 28%
Q1 2003 29.3%
Q3 2002 30.4%
Q1 2002 29.7%
Q3 2001 29.4%
Q1 2001 26.4%
Q3 2000 25.4%

Recent Events

datetime event actual previous consensus
2021-02-23 04:30 AM Unemployment Rate (Q4) 32.5% 30.8% -

Next Release Date :

South Africa Unemployment Rate : Definition
The South Africa unemployment rate shows the percentage of the labor force that is jobless and actively seeking work. It's calculated by dividing the number of unemployed people by the total labor force, then multiplying by 100.