Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 24.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa is 24.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa peaked at 27.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 1960.
That places South Africa 134th out of 171 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.3% | — |
| 1970 | 16.8% | +49.5% |
| 1980 | 11.9% | -29.5% |
| 1985 | 13.9% | +16.8% |
| 1991 | 11.6% | -16.0% |
| 1997 | 17.3% | +48.7% |
| 1998 | 20.4% | +17.9% |
| 1999 | 25.7% | +26.0% |
| 2000 | 26.8% | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 27.5% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 27.8% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 26.7% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 25.3% | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 26.7% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 26.1% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 27.8% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 25.3% | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 23.5% | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 23.5% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 22.9% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 23.6% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 22.8% | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 23.8% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 23.6% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 24.2% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 22.6% | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 23.2% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | -17.8% |
| 2021 | 20.4% | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 23.2% | +14.0% |
| 2023 | 25.0% | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 24.7% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.3% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 1 |
| 1970s | 16.8% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 1 |
| 1980s | 12.9% | 11.9% | 13.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 18.8% | 11.6% | 25.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 25.3% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.4% | 22.6% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.5% | 19.1% | 25.0% | 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 labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in South Africa was 24.7% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- South Africa ranks 134th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 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 rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.