Youth unemployment rate (under 25) in South Africa
Youth unemployment rate (under 25) in South Africa was 59.93% in 2025, according to the World Bank. That is down 0.32 pts from 2024. That is the 2nd highest of 181 countries in 2025.
Youth unemployment rate (under 25) in South Africa, 1991 to 2025
All 35 values
| Period | % |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 59.93 |
| 2024 | 60.25 |
| 2023 | 60.26 |
| 2022 | 61.68 |
| 2021 | 65.45 |
| 2020 | 59.61 |
| 2019 | 57.32 |
| 2018 | 53.63 |
| 2017 | 53.4 |
| 2016 | 53.45 |
| 2015 | 50.12 |
| 2014 | 51.19 |
| 2013 | 51.21 |
| 2012 | 51.32 |
| 2011 | 49.75 |
| 2010 | 50.45 |
| 2009 | 47.47 |
| 2008 | 44.58 |
| 2007 | 44.04 |
| 2006 | 43.87 |
| 2005 | 43.93 |
| 2004 | 43.86 |
| 2003 | 43.8 |
| 2002 | 43.35 |
| 2001 | 43.21 |
| 2000 | 43.19 |
| 1999 | 43.11 |
| 1998 | 42.64 |
| 1997 | 42.09 |
| 1996 | 42.14 |
| 1995 | 42.81 |
| 1994 | 43.89 |
| 1993 | 44.32 |
| 1992 | 44.07 |
| 1991 | 43.49 |
Rankings
Definition
Unemployed people under 25 as a percentage of the labour force under 25.
How to cite
World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Unemployment, youth total, % of total labor force ages 15-24, modeled ILO estimate (SL.UEM.1524.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11.Use this data in your AI agent
Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:
What is the latest youth unemployment rate in South Africa? Cite the source.
get_value {"indicator":"youth_unemployment_rate","place":"za"}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/value?indicator=youth_unemployment_rate&place=zaQuestions
What is the youth unemployment rate in South Africa?
Youth unemployment rate (under 25) in South Africa was 59.93% in 2025, according to the World Bank. That is down 0.32 pts from 2024. That is the 2nd highest of 181 countries in 2025.
Where does this figure come from?
World Bank. Unemployment, youth total, % of total labor force ages 15-24, modeled ILO estimate (SL.UEM.1524.ZS). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-11.
What was the highest youth unemployment rate in South Africa?
65.45% in 2021, the highest value since 1991 in this series.