Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) was 32.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa is 32.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa peaked at 35.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 22.4%, in 1997.
That places South Africa 150th out of 174 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 29.7% | — |
| 1996 | 27.3% | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 22.4% | -17.9% |
| 1998 | 25.7% | +14.7% |
| 1999 | 29.8% | +16.0% |
| 2000 | 27.4% | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 26.8% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 23.9% | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 24.2% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 24.2% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 26.0% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 27.1% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 35.6% | +31.5% |
| 2009 | 34.4% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 32.6% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 32.8% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 33.0% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 33.9% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 33.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 34.5% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 33.8% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 34.3% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 34.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 33.7% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 30.4% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 30.4% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 32.1% | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 32.6% | +1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 32.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 48.5%, 67% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 32.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56.1%, 58% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.0% | 22.4% | 29.8% | 5 |
| 2000s | 27.5% | 23.9% | 35.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 32.6% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.9% | 28.9% | 32.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 147 Naoero 33.8% compare
- 148 Puerto Rico 33.3% compare
- 149 Marshall Islands 33.1% compare
- 151 India 32.5% compare
- 152 Tuvalu 32.3% compare
- 153 Saudi Arabia 32.2% compare
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 employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in South Africa was 32.6% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.4% in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%)?
- South Africa ranks 150th out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.