Working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa
South Africa: Working-age population with vocational education or training was 855.87 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa, 2011–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa is 855.87, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 12.6% on the previous year and up 82.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa peaked at 855.87 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 260.49, in 2011.
That places South Africa 32nd out of 73 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 260.49 | — |
| 2013 | 514.48 | +97.5% |
| 2014 | 467.96 | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 524.79 | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 524.52 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 589.06 | +12.3% |
| 2018 | 631.32 | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 662.16 | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 707.27 | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 639.05 | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 666.84 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 760.41 | +14.0% |
| 2024 | 855.87 | +12.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 855.87 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 700.45, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 855.87 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 588.57, 1.5× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +97.5% | 260.49 | 514.48 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 521.85 | 260.49 | 662.16 | 8 |
| 2020s | 725.89 | 639.05 | 855.87 | 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 working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa?
- Working-age population with vocational education or training in South Africa was 855.87 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest working-age population with vocational education or training recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 855.87 in 2024.
- What is the lowest working-age population with vocational education or training recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 260.49 in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for working-age population with vocational education or training?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 73 countries with data for 2024.
- Is working-age population with vocational education or training rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Working-age population with vocational education or training. 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
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Vocational education is education that prepares individuals to acquire specific skills for a particular trade or occupation. It focuses on practical applications of skills and knowledge needed for specific jobs or careers, often involving hands-on training, internships, or apprenticeships. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.