Female share of the labor force in South Africa
South Africa: Female share of the labor force was 46.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female share of the labor force in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female share of the labor force in South Africa stood at 46.6%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in South Africa peaked at 46.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 37.8%, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 75th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female share of the labor force in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37.8% | — |
| 1991 | 37.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 38.3% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 37.9% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 38.4% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 40.3% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 41.9% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 43.0% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 43.3% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 43.7% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 44.1% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 44.5% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 44.8% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 45.1% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 45.3% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 45.5% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 45.6% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 45.8% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 45.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 45.7% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 45.4% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 45.8% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 45.6% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 46.0% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 45.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 45.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 45.7% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 46.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 46.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 45.9% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 45.6% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 45.4% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 45.8% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 46.3% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 46.5% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 46.6% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.2% | 37.8% | 43.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.2% | 44.1% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.8% | 45.4% | 46.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.0% | 45.4% | 46.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 72 Botswana 46.7% compare
- 73 Lao People's Democratic Republic 46.7% compare
- 74 Albania 46.6% compare
- 76 Montenegro 46.6% compare
- 77 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 46.6% compare
- 78 Luxembourg 46.5% 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 share of the labor force in South Africa?
- Female share of the labor force in South Africa was 46.6% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 46.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.8% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for female share of the labor force?
- South Africa ranks 75th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.