What this page covers
Quick answer: Statistics South Africa publishes two unemployment rates each quarter, and they differ by more than ten percentage points. Key figures: official rate 31.6%; expanded rate 41.2%; youth unemployment 59.4%; the gap between measures 9.6pp. Figures current at 27 September 2026, from Statistics South Africa, quarterly labour force survey.
Statistics South Africa publishes two unemployment rates each quarter, and they differ by more than ten percentage points. Which one is quoted changes the picture substantially, so both are shown here.
Key findings
- The official unemployment rate is 31.6%, and 41.2% on the expanded definition that includes discouraged work-seekers.
- Youth unemployment is 59.4%.
- The official rate has been above 30% every year since 2020.
⬇ Download this chart (PNG) · Free to reuse with the credit “Source: TradeAnswers, South African Unemployment Rate History” (CC BY 4.0).
| Year | Official rate | Expanded rate | Youth, 15 to 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31.6% | 41.2% | 59.4% |
| 2025 | 32.1% | 41.9% | 60.2% |
| 2024 | 32.1% | 41.9% | 60.8% |
| 2023 | 32.1% | 41.1% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 33.5% | 42.6% | 61.4% |
| 2021 | 34.9% | 46.2% | 66.5% |
| 2020 | 32.5% | 42.6% | 63.2% |
| 2019 | 29.1% | 38.7% | 58.2% |
| 2018 | 27.1% | 37.0% | 55.2% |
| 2016 | 26.7% | 35.6% | 54.4% |
| 2014 | 25.1% | 34.6% | 51.3% |
| 2012 | 24.9% | 35.6% | 51.5% |
| 2010 | 24.9% | 35.8% | 51.0% |
| 2008 | 22.5% | 31.2% | 45.9% |
| 2005 | 26.7% | 38.8% | 50.1% |
| 2002 | 29.4% | 41.8% | 54.2% |
| 2000 | 23.3% | 35.9% | 45.5% |
Source: TradeAnswers, South African Unemployment Rate History. Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY 4.0).
| Measure | Counts as unemployed |
|---|---|
| Official, narrow | Without work, available to work, and actively looked in the past four weeks |
| Expanded | Without work and available, whether or not they looked |
| The gap | Discouraged work seekers who have stopped looking |
| Labour force participation | Those working or actively looking, as a share of working-age population |
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| Item | Effect |
|---|---|
| Rand | Limited direct effect; it is a slow variable |
| Bonds | Feeds the fiscal debate through the social grant burden |
| Retail shares | A leading indicator for consumer demand |
| Policy | Central to the growth debate, and to ratings commentary |
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How these figures work
The figures on this page come from published sources and change on a schedule rather than continuously, which is what makes them worth recording in one place. The expanded rate is the one most economists watch, because a discouraged work seeker is still unemployed in every sense except the statistical one.
Youth unemployment near 60% is the figure that drives most policy discussion. It is roughly double the national rate on either definition.
★ A worked example
Reading the tables together is where the value is. Unemployment data rarely moves the rand on the day. Its effect runs through the fiscal outlook and the growth forecast, which show up in bond yields over months.
✕ Common mistakes
- The expanded rate is the one most economists watch, because a discouraged work seeker is still unemployed in every sense except the statistical one.
- Youth unemployment near 60% is the figure that drives most policy discussion. It is roughly double the national rate on either definition.
- Unemployment data rarely moves the rand on the day. Its effect runs through the fiscal outlook and the growth forecast, which show up in bond yields over months.
- Taking a figure without its date. A number from a reference page is only as good as when it was last checked, which is why the date sits at the top of this one.
Notes on reading these figures
- The expanded rate is the one most economists watch, because a discouraged work seeker is still unemployed in every sense except the statistical one.
- Youth unemployment near 60% is the figure that drives most policy discussion. It is roughly double the national rate on either definition.
- Unemployment data rarely moves the rand on the day. Its effect runs through the fiscal outlook and the growth forecast, which show up in bond yields over months.
To put these figures to work, the How unemployment data affects sentiment runs the arithmetic on your own numbers, and South African GDP Growth History covers the same ground in ordinary language. South African Inflation History and Unemployment and markets go into the detail this table only summarises. The Rand Exchange Rate History covers the part this table leaves out.
Terms used on this page
See also: What Is the Difference Between Spot Rate and Forward Points? and South African Government Debt Reference and South African Balance of Payments.
Spotted an outdated figure? If a figure or rate on this page no longer matches its source, email us the page and the source. A material correction is dated on the Updates Log.
How these figures are compiled, checked and corrected: our data methodology.
Cite this page
Barosso, G. (2026, September 27). South African Unemployment Rate History. TradeAnswers. https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/south-african-unemployment-rate-history.htmlBarosso, G (2026) South African Unemployment Rate History, TradeAnswers, figures current at 27 September 2026, https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/south-african-unemployment-rate-history.htmlThe tables and the CSV on this page are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 licence: attribution with a link to this page. See the Press & Data Licence page.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there two unemployment rates?
The official rate counts only those who actively looked for work in the past four weeks. The expanded rate includes discouraged work seekers.
Which is the more accurate measure?
The expanded rate is what most economists watch, because someone who has stopped looking is still unemployed in every sense but the statistical one.
How high is youth unemployment?
Around 60% for those aged 15 to 24, on either measure, which is roughly double the national rate.
Does unemployment data move markets?
Rarely on the day. Its effect runs through the fiscal outlook and the growth forecast, showing up in bond yields over months.
Who publishes it?
Statistics South Africa, through the Quarterly Labour Force Survey.
What is labour force participation?
Those working or actively looking, as a share of the working-age population. A falling participation rate can lower the official unemployment rate without anyone finding work.
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