Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 was 24.67 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa is 24.67, 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 rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa peaked at 27.82 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 11.26, 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 rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.26 | — |
| 1970 | 16.83 | +49.5% |
| 1980 | 11.86 | -29.5% |
| 1985 | 13.85 | +16.8% |
| 1991 | 11.64 | -16.0% |
| 1997 | 17.3 | +48.7% |
| 1998 | 20.4 | +17.9% |
| 1999 | 25.7 | +26.0% |
| 2000 | 26.77 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 27.5 | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 27.82 | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 26.74 | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 25.35 | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 25.38 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 26.65 | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 26.13 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 27.77 | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 25.3 | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 23.52 | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 23.48 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 22.93 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 23.63 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 22.85 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 23.78 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 23.57 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 24.18 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 22.64 | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 23.2 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 19.06 | -17.8% |
| 2021 | 20.4 | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 23.25 | +14.0% |
| 2023 | 25.02 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 24.67 | -1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 24.67 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.84, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 24.67 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.52, 68% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +49.5% | 11.26 | 16.83 |
| 1997 | +48.7% | 11.64 | 17.3 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.26 | 11.26 | 11.26 | 1 |
| 1970s | 16.83 | 16.83 | 16.83 | 1 |
| 1980s | 12.86 | 11.86 | 13.85 | 2 |
| 1990s | 18.76 | 11.64 | 25.7 | 4 |
| 2000s | 26.54 | 25.3 | 27.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.38 | 22.64 | 24.18 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.48 | 19.06 | 25.02 | 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 rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa?
- Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in South Africa was 24.67 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27.82 in 2002.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.26 in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980?
- South Africa ranks 134th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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