Female labor force participation rate by age in South Africa
South Africa: Female labor force participation rate by age was 24.44 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
24.44
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
143rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
35.49
in 1990
All-time low
18.91
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Female labor force participation rate by age in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 24.44 for female labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate by age in South Africa peaked at 35.49 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 18.91, in 2020.
That places South Africa 143rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate by age in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35.49 | — |
| 1991 | 35.29 | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 35.41 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 35.05 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 35.02 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 35.42 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 35.45 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 35.07 | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 34.21 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 33.27 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 32.31 | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 31.35 | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 30.41 | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 29.57 | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 28.86 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 28.34 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 27.93 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 27.59 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 27.35 | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 24.95 | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 23.23 | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 23.19 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 22.67 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 23.4 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 22.63 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 23.55 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 23.34 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 23.97 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 22.45 | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 23.02 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 18.91 | -17.9% |
| 2021 | 20.23 | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 23.04 | +13.9% |
| 2023 | 24.79 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 24.44 | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.97 | 33.27 | 35.49 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.87 | 24.95 | 32.31 | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.15 | 22.45 | 23.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.28 | 18.91 | 24.79 | 5 |
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 female labor force participation rate by age in South Africa?
- Female labor force participation rate by age in South Africa was 24.44 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.49 in 1990.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.91 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for female labor force participation rate by age?
- South Africa ranks 143rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).