Modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Modeled female employment to population ratio was 32.92 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
32.92
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
157th
of 186 countries
All-time high
35.73
in 2007
All-time low
28.93
in 2021
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa is 32.92, 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, modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa peaked at 35.73 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 28.93, in 2021.
That places South Africa 157th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 32.66 | — |
| 1992 | 32.58 | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 32.59 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 32.84 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 33.34 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 33.74 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 33.98 | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 34.03 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 34.12 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 34.37 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 34.64 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 34.87 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 35.01 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 35.23 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 35.41 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 35.61 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 35.73 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 35.72 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 34.55 | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 32.7 | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 32.89 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 33.09 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 34.02 | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 33.95 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 34.6 | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 33.92 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 34.42 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 34.44 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 33.77 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 30.46 | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 28.93 | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 30.45 | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 32.1 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 32.65 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 32.92 | +0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 32.92 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 46.16, 71% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 32.92 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.48, 62% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.32 | 32.58 | 34.12 | 9 |
| 2000s | 35.11 | 34.37 | 35.73 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.78 | 32.7 | 34.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.25 | 28.93 | 32.92 | 6 |
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 modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa?
- Modeled female employment to population ratio in South Africa was 32.92 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest modeled female employment to population ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.73 in 2007.
- What is the lowest modeled female employment to population ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.93 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for modeled female employment to population ratio?
- South Africa ranks 157th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is modeled female employment to population ratio 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Modeled female employment to population ratio. 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).