Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) was 0.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa stood at 0.7%.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa peaked at 4.3% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 140th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.2% | — |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 4.2% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 4.1% | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 3.2% | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -16.4% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | -17.4% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -12.7% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | -23.1% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -14.2% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -11.2% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -10.5% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -13.9% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | +15.0% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | -9.3% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.7% | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 15% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.0%, 6% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.0% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 1.4% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa?
- Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa was 0.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 1993.
- What is the lowest contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for contributing family workers, female (% of female employment)?
- South Africa ranks 140th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Contributing family workers are those workers who hold "self-employment jobs" as own-account workers in a market-oriented establishment operated by a related person living in the same household.