Share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa
South Africa: Share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture was 35.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa is 35.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.8% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa peaked at 80.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 30.9%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 53rd of 81 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 80.5% | — |
| 2001 | 79.1% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 79.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 79.1% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 78.2% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 74.3% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 73.1% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 71.8% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 41.4% | -42.3% |
| 2009 | 38.9% | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 38.5% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 39.6% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 36.9% | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 35.8% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 35.0% | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 36.1% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 38.0% | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 35.5% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 34.0% | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 31.7% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 32.1% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 30.9% | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 35.4% | +14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 69.6% | 38.9% | 80.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.0% | 35.0% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.8% | 30.9% | 35.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa?
- Share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture in South Africa was 35.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 80.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.9% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 81 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment: agriculture vs. non-agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%).