ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status in South Africa

South Africa: ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status was 861.44 1000 No in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
861.44 1000 No
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
15th
of 88 countries
All-time high
950.81 1000 No
in 2002
All-time low
579.29 1000 No
in 2011
Years of data
25
2000–2024

ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status in South Africa, 2000–2024

02004006008001.0k2000201220242000: 863 1000 No2001: 864.4 1000 No2002: 950.8 1000 No2003: 880.9 1000 No2004: 839.4 1000 No2005: 669.1 1000 No2006: 662.5 1000 No2007: 688.2 1000 No2008: 731.2 1000 No2009: 645.5 1000 No2010: 596.4 1000 No2011: 579.3 1000 No2012: 636.4 1000 No2013: 686.8 1000 No2014: 648.6 1000 No2015: 830.6 1000 No2016: 809.1 1000 No2017: 790.4 1000 No2018: 787.9 1000 No2019: 808.3 1000 No2020: 727.7 1000 No2021: 765.8 1000 No2022: 806.7 1000 No2023: 861.5 1000 No2024: 861.4 1000 No

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in 1000 No.

Analysis

The most recent figure for ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status in South Africa is 861.44 1000 No, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 32.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status in South Africa peaked at 950.81 1000 No in 2002 and was at its lowest, 579.29 1000 No, in 2011.

That places South Africa 15th out of 88 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status of employment, employees — Value in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year 1000 No Change
2000 863.04 1000 No
2001 864.4 1000 No +0.2%
2002 950.81 1000 No +10.0%
2003 880.89 1000 No -7.4%
2004 839.39 1000 No -4.7%
2005 669.09 1000 No -20.3%
2006 662.51 1000 No -1.0%
2007 688.21 1000 No +3.9%
2008 731.23 1000 No +6.3%
2009 645.46 1000 No -11.7%
2010 596.39 1000 No -7.6%
2011 579.29 1000 No -2.9%
2012 636.39 1000 No +9.9%
2013 686.79 1000 No +7.9%
2014 648.61 1000 No -5.6%
2015 830.62 1000 No +28.1%
2016 809.11 1000 No -2.6%
2017 790.44 1000 No -2.3%
2018 787.93 1000 No -0.3%
2019 808.27 1000 No +2.6%
2020 727.66 1000 No -10.0%
2021 765.77 1000 No +5.2%
2022 806.69 1000 No +5.3%
2023 861.48 1000 No +6.8%
2024 861.44 1000 No -0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 861.44 1000 No is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.47 1000 No, 16.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 861.44 1000 No is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 160.44 1000 No, 5.4× the median. (10 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 779.5 1000 No 645.46 1000 No 950.81 1000 No 10
2010s 717.38 1000 No 579.29 1000 No 830.62 1000 No 10
2020s 804.61 1000 No 727.66 1000 No 861.48 1000 No 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 12 Thailand 1,072 1000 No compare
  2. 13 Ecuador 929.12 1000 No compare
  3. 14 Guatemala 873.6 1000 No compare
  4. 16 Sri Lanka 729.94 1000 No compare
  5. 17 Japan 616.94 1000 No compare
  6. 18 Spain 487.11 1000 No compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status in South Africa?
Ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status in South Africa was 861.44 1000 No in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 950.81 1000 No in 2002.
What is the lowest ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 579.29 1000 No in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status?
South Africa ranks 15th out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
Is ilostat - labour force survey — employment in agriculture by status rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status of employment, employees — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/ilostat-labour-force-survey-employment-in-agriculture-by-status-of-employment-employees/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
ILOSTAT - Labour force survey — Employment in agriculture by status of employment, employees — Value
Unit
1000 No
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
97 places, 1,846 data points, 1976–2025
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT Employment indicators domain focuses on indicators related to employment in agrifood systems and rural areas. The update is performed yearly, using data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) database that contains a rich set of indicators from a wide range of topics related to labour statistics. The indicators published in FAOSTAT are derived from the labour force statistics (LFS) and rural and urban labour markets (RURURB) databases of the ILOSTAT database. In addition, the ILO modelled estimates and projections (ILOEST) are used to provide information on employment in agriculture. FAOSTAT also publishes indicators on employment in agrifood systems (AFS) from 2000 at the national, regional, and global levels, using a methodology developed by the FAO to estimate the number of people employed within these systems.