Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in South Africa
South Africa: Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment was 35.01 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 35.01 for male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in South Africa peaked at 50.76 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 29.69, in 2014.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50.76 | — |
| 2001 | 48.45 | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 45.28 | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 44.18 | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 44.42 | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 45.82 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 47.1 | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 47.63 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 32.3 | -32.2% |
| 2009 | 30.45 | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 31.47 | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 30.4 | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 29.74 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 29.82 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 29.69 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 32.6 | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 32.39 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 32.48 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 33.23 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 33.18 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 30.7 | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 31.78 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 34.49 | +8.5% |
| 2023 | 34.29 | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 35.01 | +2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.01 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 57.69, 61% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.01 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 82.32, 43% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -32.2% | 47.63 | 32.3 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.64 | 30.45 | 50.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.5 | 29.69 | 33.23 | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.25 | 30.7 | 35.01 | 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 male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in South Africa?
- Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment in South Africa was 35.01 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male vs female informal employment as share of total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.76 in 2000.
- What is the lowest male vs female informal employment as share of total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.69 in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for male vs female informal employment as share of total employment?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is male vs female informal employment as share of total employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Male vs female informal employment as share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).