Female employment rate in South Africa
South Africa: Female employment rate was 32.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
32.9%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
157th
of 186 countries
All-time high
35.7%
in 2007
All-time low
28.9%
in 2021
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Female employment rate in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate in South Africa is 32.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in South Africa peaked at 35.7% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 28.9%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 157th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Female employment rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 32.7% | — |
| 1992 | 32.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 32.6% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 32.8% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 33.3% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 33.7% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 34.0% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 34.0% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 34.1% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 34.4% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 34.6% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 34.9% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 35.0% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 35.2% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 35.4% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 35.6% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 35.7% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 35.7% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 34.6% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 32.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 33.1% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 34.0% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 33.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 34.6% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 33.9% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 34.4% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 34.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 33.8% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 30.5% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 30.4% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 32.1% | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 32.7% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 32.9% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.3% | 32.6% | 34.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 35.1% | 34.4% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 32.7% | 34.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.3% | 28.9% | 32.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 154 Puerto Rico 35.0% compare
- 155 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 34.9% compare
- 156 Bosnia and Herzegovina 34.0% compare
- 158 Türkiye 32.8% compare
- 159 India 31.1% compare
- 160 Eswatini 31.0% compare
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 female employment rate in South Africa?
- Female employment rate in South Africa was 32.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2007.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.9% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for female employment rate?
- South Africa ranks 157th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.