Iraq vs South Africa: Female unemployment rate
Iraq
30.1%
in 2025
South Africa
34.0%
in 2025
Iraq rank
6th
South Africa rank
4th
Female unemployment rate over time
- Iraq
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 34.0% against 30.1% in Iraq, a difference of 3.9%.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Iraq's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1991 it was South Africa ahead.
Iraq ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 4th of 186 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iraq | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | 26.7% | 19.5% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 25.8% | 18.2% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 20.7% | 28.0% | 7.3% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 34.3% | 4.9% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female unemployment rate, Iraq or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 34.0% against 30.1% in Iraq as of 2025.
- What is the difference in female unemployment rate between Iraq and South Africa?
- 3.9%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iraq and South Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Iraq and South Africa rank globally for female unemployment rate?
- Iraq ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 4th 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 unemployment 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 labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.