Government

South Africa’s unemployment rate is 530% higher than the average G20 country

Staff Writer

 ·18 Nov 2025

South Africa’s official unemployment rate of 31.9% is five times higher than the average of the other G20 countries.

The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier international forum for economic cooperation, bringing together the world’s major advanced and developing economies.

The G20’s primary purpose is to discuss and coordinate policies aimed at addressing global challenges and enhancing international financial stability.

The G20 also aims to promote strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth globally.

It was founded in 1999, following the Asian financial crisis, as a forum for finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss global economic issues.

The G20 was elevated to the level of heads of state in the wake of the 2007 global economic and financial crisis.

In 2009, it was designated the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”, making it a core component of global financial stability and prosperity.

The G20 initially focused mainly on broad macroeconomic issues, but it has since expanded its agenda.

It now includes trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption.

The G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating Presidency. This year, South Africa will host the summit as the president.

The G20 Presidency is responsible for bringing together the G20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy.

High-level priorities for the 2025 G20 Summit include promoting inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, employment, and reducing inequality.

Delegates will discuss ensuring food security and harnessing Artificial Intelligence and innovation for sustainable development.

As the host, South Africa is also advocating for the development priorities of the African continent and the Global South.

This includes addressing debt sustainability and reform of the international financial architecture.

G20 countries and South Africa’s position

The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries and two regional bodies: the European Union and the African Union.

The G20 countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, and Japan.

Others are the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The G20 members represent approximately 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population.

South Africa has the smallest economy among the nineteen G20 countries, and it has the highest unemployment rate by far.

South Africa’s official unemployment rate fell to 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025, down from 33.2% in the previous quarter.

Despite this decline, the local unemployment rate remains significantly out of sync with that of other G20 countries.

Outside of South Africa, Turkey has the highest unemployment rate at 8.6%, followed by France at 7.7% and Argentina at 7.6%.

The average unemployment rate of the 19 countries in the G20 is 5.1%, which means that South Africa’s unemployment rate is 530% higher.

The table below provides a summary of South Africa’s unemployment rate compared to that of other G20 countries.