Economy
The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) · updated 2025-12-31
South Africa's youth unemployment rate stands at 59.93% as of 2025-12-31, down from 60.25% in 2024. Historical data runs from 1991 to 2025 (35 observations).
In 2025, South Africa's youth unemployment rate was 59.93%, down from 60.25% in 2024.
In 2024, South Africa's youth unemployment rate was 60.25%, down from 60.26% in 2023.
In 2023, South Africa's youth unemployment rate was 60.26%, down from 61.68% in 2022.
In 2022, South Africa's youth unemployment rate was 61.68%, down from 65.45% in 2021.
In 2021, South Africa's youth unemployment rate was 65.45%, up from 59.61% in 2020.
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59.93% | -0.318% |
| 2024 | 60.25% | -0.011% |
| 2023 | 60.26% | -1.42% |
| 2022 | 61.68% | -3.77% |
| 2021 | 65.45% | +5.84% |
| 2020 | 59.61% | +2.29% |
| 2019 | 57.32% | +3.68% |
| 2018 | 53.63% | +0.238% |
| 2017 | 53.4% | -0.056% |
| 2016 | 53.45% | +3.34% |
| 2015 | 50.12% | -1.08% |
| 2014 | 51.19% | -0.011% |
| 2013 | 51.21% | -0.117% |
| 2012 | 51.32% | +1.58% |
| 2011 | 49.75% | -0.706% |
| 2010 | 50.45% | +2.98% |
| 2009 | 47.47% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 44.58% | +0.533% |
| 2007 | 44.04% | +0.176% |
| 2006 | 43.87% | -0.062% |
| 2005 | 43.93% | +0.067% |
| 2004 | 43.86% | +0.067% |
| 2003 | 43.8% | +0.446% |
| 2002 | 43.35% | +0.14% |
| 2001 | 43.21% | +0.025% |
| 2000 | 43.19% | +0.077% |
| 1999 | 43.11% | +0.471% |
| 1998 | 42.64% | +0.544% |
| 1997 | 42.09% | -0.049% |
| 1996 | 42.14% | -0.668% |
| 1995 | 42.81% | -1.08% |
| 1994 | 43.89% | -0.43% |
| 1993 | 44.32% | +0.257% |
| 1992 | 44.07% | +0.574% |
| 1991 | 43.49% | — |
The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) · Download this series as CSV — free, attribution required (CC BY 4.0).
South Africa's youth unemployment rate is 59.93% as of 2025-12-31, compared with 60.25% in 2024. The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
The highest recorded value is 65.45% (2021); the lowest is 42.09% (1997), across data from 1991 to 2025.
The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) Figures are republished with attribution and updated as the source releases new observations.