India vs South Africa: Female employment rate
India
31.1%
in 2025
South Africa
32.9%
in 2025
India rank
159th
South Africa rank
157th
Female employment rate over time
- India
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 32.9% against 31.1% in India, a difference of 1.8%.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times India's.
Across all 35 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
India ranks 159th and South Africa ranks 157th of 186 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | India | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 29.2% | 33.3% | 4.1% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 30.8% | 35.1% | 4.3% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 24.9% | 33.8% | 8.9% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 28.4% | 31.3% | 2.9% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female employment rate, India or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 32.9% against 31.1% in India as of 2025.
- What is the difference in female employment rate between India and South Africa?
- 1.8%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for India and South Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do India and South Africa rank globally for female employment rate?
- India ranks 159th and South Africa ranks 157th of 186 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – 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 (ages 15 and older) who are employed.