Belgium vs South Africa: Female labor force participation rate
Belgium
49.8%
in 2025
South Africa
49.9%
in 2025
Belgium rank
120th
South Africa rank
119th
Female labor force participation rate over time
- Belgium
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 49.9% against 49.8% in Belgium, a difference of 0.1%.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was South Africa ahead.
Belgium ranks 120th and South Africa ranks 119th of 186 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Belgium | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.9% | 45.4% | 5.4% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 44.7% | 47.3% | 2.6% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 48.0% | 46.9% | 1.0% | Belgium |
| 2020s | 49.6% | 47.6% | 2.0% | Belgium |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female labor force participation rate, Belgium or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 49.9% against 49.8% in Belgium as of 2025.
- What is the difference in female labor force participation rate between Belgium and South Africa?
- 0.1%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and South Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Belgium and South Africa rank globally for female labor force participation rate?
- Belgium ranks 120th and South Africa ranks 119th of 186 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Female labor force participation 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 (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).