Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 55.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 55.4% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Africa peaked at 55.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 1990.
That places South Africa 121st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.9% | — |
| 1991 | 48.0% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 48.1% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 48.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 48.7% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 49.1% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 49.5% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 49.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 50.0% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 50.3% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 50.7% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 51.0% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 51.3% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 51.6% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 51.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 52.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 52.2% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 52.3% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 50.5% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 48.7% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 49.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 49.5% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 50.4% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 50.7% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 52.0% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 52.2% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 53.3% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 53.2% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 53.4% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 48.6% | -8.9% |
| 2021 | 50.1% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 52.1% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 54.3% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 55.2% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 55.4% | +0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 55.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.9%, 99% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 55.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.0%, 94% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.7% | 47.9% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.4% | 50.3% | 52.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.2% | 48.7% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.6% | 48.6% | 55.4% | 6 |
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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Africa was 55.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- South Africa ranks 121st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.