SDG indicator 8.7.1: Proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa
South Africa: SDG indicator 8.7.1: Proportion of children engaged in economic was 0.205 in 2024. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.7.1: Proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa, 2010–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2024, sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa stood at 0.205.
The figure is up 26.5% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa peaked at 0.377 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.093, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 35th of 40 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.7.1: Proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.164 | — |
| 2011 | 0.328 | +100.0% |
| 2012 | 0.33 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 0.328 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.302 | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 0.37 | +22.5% |
| 2016 | 0.377 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 0.227 | -39.8% |
| 2020 | 0.165 | -27.3% |
| 2021 | 0.093 | -43.6% |
| 2022 | 0.127 | +36.6% |
| 2023 | 0.162 | +27.6% |
| 2024 | 0.205 | +26.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.205 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.76, 12% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.205 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.44, 6% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.3033 | 0.164 | 0.377 | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.1504 | 0.093 | 0.205 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa?
- Sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic in South Africa was 0.205 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.377 in 2016.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.093 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 40 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sdg indicator 8.7.1: proportion of children engaged in economic rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. 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, published as part of SDG indicator 8.7.1: Proportion of children engaged in economic activity (15-17). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. Estimates on economic activity among children aged 5-17 refer to: (a) children 5–11 years old who, during the reference week, did at least one hour of economic activity, (b) children 12–14 years old who, during the reference week, did at least 14 hours of economic activity, (c) children 15–17 years old who, during the reference week, did at least 43 hours of economic activity. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.