Female employment to population ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Female employment to population ratio was 32.62 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
32.62
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
150th
of 172 countries
All-time high
35.59
in 2008
All-time low
22.4
in 1997
Years of data
30
1994–2024
Female employment to population ratio in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 32.62 for female employment to population ratio 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, female employment to population ratio in South Africa peaked at 35.59 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 22.4, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 150th of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Female employment to population ratio 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 | 27.42 | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 26.85 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 23.93 | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 24.22 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 24.18 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 25.32 | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 25.97 | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 27.07 | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 35.59 | +31.5% |
| 2009 | 34.44 | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 32.59 | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 32.79 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 32.98 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 33.92 | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 33.86 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 34.53 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 33.84 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 34.33 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 34.36 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 33.7 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 30.41 | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 28.88 | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 30.41 | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 32.07 | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 32.62 | +1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 32.62 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 48.55, 67% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 32.62 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56.06, 58% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.98 | 22.4 | 29.8 | 5 |
| 2000s | 27.5 | 23.93 | 35.59 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.69 | 32.59 | 34.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.88 | 28.88 | 32.62 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 147 Nauru 33.8 compare
- 148 Puerto Rico 33.27 compare
- 149 Marshall Islands 33.06 compare
- 151 India 32.52 compare
- 152 Tuvalu 32.31 compare
- 153 Saudi Arabia 32.22 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 female employment to population ratio in South Africa?
- Female employment to population ratio in South Africa was 32.62 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment to population ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.59 in 2008.
- What is the lowest female employment to population ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.4 in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for female employment to population ratio?
- South Africa ranks 150th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female employment to population ratio 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).