Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa
South Africa: Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation was 9.5% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa, 2000–2019
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa stood at 9.5%.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and down 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa peaked at 20.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -10.9%, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 27th of 67 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.8% | — |
| 2001 | -4.1% | -170.3% |
| 2002 | -8.7% | +112.9% |
| 2003 | -10.9% | +25.5% |
| 2004 | -5.4% | -50.0% |
| 2005 | -8.9% | +63.1% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | -169.4% |
| 2007 | -7.5% | -222.2% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | -308.9% |
| 2011 | 14.9% | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 11.0% | -26.1% |
| 2013 | 11.0% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 16.7% | +51.7% |
| 2015 | 20.0% | +19.4% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | -50.0% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | -4.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.9%, 3.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.9%, 87% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -4.2% | -10.9% | 6.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 13.6% | 9.5% | 20.0% | 8 |
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 gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa?
- Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation in South Africa was 9.5% in 2019, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.9% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 67 countries with data for 2019.
- Is gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender wage gap vs. ratio of female-to-male labor force participation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Difference between average earnings of men and average earnings of women expressed as a percentage of average earnings of men.