Saudi Arabia vs South Africa: Female employment rate
Saudi Arabia
32.2%
in 2025
South Africa
32.6%
in 2024
Saudi Arabia rank
153rd
South Africa rank
150th
Female employment rate over time
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 32.6% against 32.2% in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 0.4%.
Across all 20 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 153rd and South Africa ranks 150th of 172 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Saudi Arabia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.5% | 29.8% | 14.3% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 14.8% | 28.8% | 14.0% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 34.0% | 17.2% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 30.9% | 2.8% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female employment rate, Saudi Arabia or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 32.6% against 32.2% in Saudi Arabia as of 2024.
- What is the difference in female employment rate between Saudi Arabia and South Africa?
- 0.4%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and South Africa?
- 20 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2024.
- How do Saudi Arabia and South Africa rank globally for female employment rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 153rd and South Africa ranks 150th of 172 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Female employment rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.