Labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa

South Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), female was 42.8% in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
42.8%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
34th
of 52 countries
All-time high
44.2%
in 2003
All-time low
35.1%
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa, 1990–2011

0102030401990200020111990: 35.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years1991: 36.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years1992: 37.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years1993: 38.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years1994: 39.3 % of total labor force 15-64 years1995: 40 % of total labor force 15-64 years1996: 40.7 % of total labor force 15-64 years1997: 41.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years1998: 42.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years1999: 42.7 % of total labor force 15-64 years2000: 43.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2001: 43.6 % of total labor force 15-64 years2002: 43.9 % of total labor force 15-64 years2003: 44.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2004: 43.9 % of total labor force 15-64 years2005: 43.7 % of total labor force 15-64 years2006: 43.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years2007: 43.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2008: 43.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2009: 43 % of total labor force 15-64 years2010: 42.8 % of total labor force 15-64 years2011: 42.8 % of total labor force 15-64 years

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of total labor force 15-64 years.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 42.8% for labor force (15-64 years), female in 2011.

That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa peaked at 44.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 35.1%, in 1990.

South Africa ranks 34th of 52 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor force (15-64 years), female (% of total labor force 15-64 years) in South Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of total labor force 15-64 years Change
1990 35.1%
1991 36.1% +3.0%
1992 37.4% +3.4%
1993 38.4% +2.8%
1994 39.3% +2.3%
1995 40.0% +2.0%
1996 40.7% +1.6%
1997 41.4% +1.6%
1998 42.1% +1.8%
1999 42.7% +1.4%
2000 43.2% +1.0%
2001 43.6% +1.0%
2002 43.9% +0.7%
2003 44.2% +0.6%
2004 43.9% -0.6%
2005 43.7% -0.6%
2006 43.4% -0.6%
2007 43.2% -0.5%
2008 43.2% +0.1%
2009 43.0% -0.6%
2010 42.8% -0.3%
2011 42.8% -0.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 42.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40.8%, 1.0× the median. (8 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 42.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.3%, 93% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 39.3% 35.1% 42.7% 10
2000s 43.5% 43.0% 44.2% 10
2010s 42.8% 42.8% 42.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 Equatorial Guinea 44.9% compare
  2. 32 Chad 44.8% compare
  3. 33 Senegal 43.7% compare
  4. 35 Nigeria 42.5% compare
  5. 36 Eswatini 39.2% compare
  6. 37 Cape Verde 38.8% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa?
Labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa was 42.8% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor force (15-64 years), female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 44.2% in 2003.
What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 35.1% in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), female?
South Africa ranks 34th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
Is labor force (15-64 years), female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Labor force (15-64 years), female (% of total labor force 15-64 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force (15-64 years), female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-15-64-years-female-percent-of-total-labor-force-15-64-years/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force (15-64 years), female (% of total labor force 15-64 years)
Unit
% of total labor force 15-64 years
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,276 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

The labor force comprising people ages 15 to 64 who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector.