Labor force with basic education, female in South Africa

South Africa: Labor force with basic education, female was 39.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
39.8%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
52nd
of 125 countries
All-time high
40.8%
in 2018
All-time low
26.8%
in 2004
Years of data
24
2000–2024

Labor force with basic education, female in South Africa, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 34.3 % of female working-age population with basic education2001: 32.7 % of female working-age population with basic education2002: 30.3 % of female working-age population with basic education2003: 29.1 % of female working-age population with basic education2004: 26.8 % of female working-age population with basic education2005: 29.1 % of female working-age population with basic education2006: 28.7 % of female working-age population with basic education2007: 27.9 % of female working-age population with basic education2008: 40.2 % of female working-age population with basic education2009: 38.4 % of female working-age population with basic education2010: 36.8 % of female working-age population with basic education2011: 37 % of female working-age population with basic education2013: 38.2 % of female working-age population with basic education2014: 38.6 % of female working-age population with basic education2015: 39.8 % of female working-age population with basic education2016: 39.6 % of female working-age population with basic education2017: 40.3 % of female working-age population with basic education2018: 40.8 % of female working-age population with basic education2019: 40.7 % of female working-age population with basic education2020: 35.5 % of female working-age population with basic education2021: 36.6 % of female working-age population with basic education2022: 37.7 % of female working-age population with basic education2023: 39.3 % of female working-age population with basic education2024: 39.8 % of female working-age population with basic education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of female working-age population with basic education.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 39.8% for labor force with basic education, female in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force with basic education, female in South Africa peaked at 40.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 2004.

South Africa ranks 52nd of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Labor force with basic education, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor force with basic education, female (% of female working-age population with basic education) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year % of female working-age population with basic education Change
2000 34.3%
2001 32.7% -4.6%
2002 30.3% -7.4%
2003 29.1% -3.8%
2004 26.8% -8.1%
2005 29.1% +8.6%
2006 28.7% -1.3%
2007 27.9% -2.7%
2008 40.2% +43.9%
2009 38.4% -4.5%
2010 36.8% -4.2%
2011 37.0% +0.6%
2013 38.2% +3.3%
2014 38.6% +0.9%
2015 39.8% +3.3%
2016 39.6% -0.6%
2017 40.3% +1.9%
2018 40.8% +1.3%
2019 40.7% -0.4%
2020 35.5% -12.8%
2021 36.6% +3.1%
2022 37.7% +3.0%
2023 39.3% +4.2%
2024 39.8% +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 31.7% 26.8% 40.2% 10
2010s 39.1% 36.8% 40.8% 9
2020s 37.8% 35.5% 39.8% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 49 Mexico 40.9% compare
  2. 50 Republic of Korea 40.3% compare
  3. 51 El Salvador 40.1% compare
  4. 53 Bangladesh 39.8% compare
  5. 54 Sweden 39.0% compare
  6. 55 Denmark 38.8% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force with basic education, female in South Africa?
Labor force with basic education, female in South Africa was 39.8% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force with basic education, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 40.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest labor force with basic education, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 2004.
How does South Africa rank for labor force with basic education, female?
South Africa ranks 52nd out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force with basic education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education, female (% of female working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force with basic education, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-with-basic-education-female-percent-of-female-working-age-population-with/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force with basic education, female (% of female working-age population with basic education)
Unit
% of female working-age population with basic education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 2,685 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).