Share of Self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in South Africa
South Africa: Share of Self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment was 14.72 % in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of Self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 14.72 % for share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in 2024.
That represents a change of up 7.8% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in South Africa peaked at 29.24 % in 2001 and was at its lowest, 11.82 %, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 50th of 68 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 Self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.37 % | — |
| 2001 | 29.24 % | +30.7% |
| 2002 | 22.15 % | -24.2% |
| 2003 | 22.01 % | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 21.14 % | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 23.13 % | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 22.78 % | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 20.59 % | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 15.96 % | -22.5% |
| 2009 | 14.62 % | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 14.64 % | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 14.14 % | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 13.09 % | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 12.96 % | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 11.82 % | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 12.07 % | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 12.34 % | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 12.98 % | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 12.54 % | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 13.31 % | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 13.27 % | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 13.32 % | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 13.21 % | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 13.65 % | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 14.72 % | +7.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 14.72 % is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.13 %, 49% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 14.72 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 73.24 %, 20% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.4 % | 14.62 % | 29.24 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.99 % | 11.82 % | 14.64 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.63 % | 13.21 % | 14.72 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in South Africa?
- Share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in South Africa was 14.72 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.24 % in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.82 % in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 68 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Share of Self-employed people in [industry] out of total employment in [industry] by [sex]: Total employment — Value — Female — All age ranges or no breakdown by age — National. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Gender Indicators presents a set of indicators relevant to agrifood systems that are disaggregated by sex, with the aim of highlighting gender differences across agrifood systems. The initial set of indicators is based on those used in FAO’s 2023 Status of Women in Agrifood Systems (SWAFS) report and on the recommendations of an expert consultation held in December 2023, and covers key dimensions including economic participation, governance, agency, social norms, assets and services, education, health, and nutrition. Indicator selection was informed by expert judgment and by the availability of data with sufficient geographic and temporal coverage to enable meaningful comparisons across regions and over time. While most indicators are produced and published by FAO and other international organizations, the objective of this domain is to provide a one-stop shop for sex-disaggregated data on agrifood systems.